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a straight line. Distance 1) The distance traveled by an object is the total len
gth that is traveled by that object. 2) Distance is a scalar quantity. 3) The SI
unit of distance is m (metre). Displacement 1) Displacement of an object from a
point of reference, O is the shortest distance of the object from point O in a
specific direction. 2) Displacement is a vector quantity. 3) The SI unit of disp
lacement is m (metre). Distance vs Displacement
Distance travelled = 200m Displacement = 120 m, in the direction of Northeast Sp
eed 1. Speed is the rate of change in distance. It is a measure of how fast the
distance change in a movement. 2. Speed is a scalar quantity. 3. The SI unit of
speed is m/s (metre per second)
Equation of Speed
Velocity Velocity is define as the rate of displacement change. It is the measur
e of how fast the displacement change of a moving object. Velocity is a vector q
uantity. The unit of displacement is m/s (metre per second)
Equation of velocity
Positive or Negative Sign of Velocity In velocity, the positive/negative sign in
dicates direction. You can take any direction as positive and the opposite as ne
gative. For a linear motion, normally we take the motion to the right as positiv
e and hence the motion to the left as negative. Acceleration Acceleration is the
rate of velocity change.Acceleration is a vector quantity. It is a measure of h
ow fast the velocity change. Acceleration is a vector quantity. The unit of acce
leration is ms-2. Equation Additional Notes An object moves with a constant velo
city if the magnitude and direction of the motion is always constant. An object
experiences changes in velocity if 1 the magnitude of velocity changes
Uniform acceleration
Increasing acceleration
Uniform deceleration
Decreasing acceleration
Converting a Velocity-Time graph to Acceleration-Time graph In order to convert
a velocity-time graph to acceleration time graph, we need to find the gradient o
f the velocity time graph and plot it in the acceleration-time graph.Free fallin
g is a motion under gravitational force as the only force acting on the moving o
bject. In SPM, you need to know the graphs of free falling of the following move
ment
1. Launching object upward. 2. Dropping Object from High Place 3. Object Falling
and Bounce Back Launching Object Upward
Velocity-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph
Dropping Object from High Place
Velocity-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph
Object Falling and Bounce Back
Velocity-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph
Mass Mass is defined as the amount of matter. The SI unit of mass is kilogram (k
g) Mass is a scalar quantity.
Inertia Inertia is the property of a body that tends to maintain its state of mo
tion. Newton's First Law In the absence of external forces, an object at rest re
mains at rest and an object in motion continues in motion with a constant veloci
ty (that is, with a constant speed in a straight line). Jerking a Card
When the cardboard is jerked quickly, the coin will fall into the glass. Explana
tion:
The inertia of the coin resists the change of its initial state, which is statio
nary. As a result, the coin does not move with the cardboard and falls into the
glass because of gravity. Pulling a Book
When the book is pulled out, the books on top will fall downwards. Explanation:
Inertia tries to oppose the change to the stationary situation, that is, when th
e book is pulled out, the books on top do not follow suit.
Pulling a Thread
1. Pull slowly - Thread A will snap. Explanation:
Tension of thread A is higher than string B. Tension at A = Weight of the load +
Pulling Force 2. Yank quickly - Thread B will snap. Explanation:
The inertia of the load prevents the force from being transmitted to thread A, h
ence causing thread B to snap. Larger Mass - Greater Inertia
Bucket filled with sand is more difficult to be moved. It's also more difficult
to be stopped from swinging. Explanation:
Object with more mass offers a greater resistance to change from its state of mo
tion. Object with larger mass has larger inertia to resist the attempt to change
the state of motion.
Long Jump
1. The long jump pit is filled with sand to increase the reaction time when atle
te land on it. 2. This is to reduce the impulsive force acts on the leg of the a
tlete because impulsive force is inversely proportional to the reaction time. Hi
gh Jump
(This image is licenced under the GNU Free Document Licence. The original file i
s from the Wikipedia.org.)
During a high jump, a high jumper will land on a thick, soft mattress after the
jump. This is to increase the reaction time and hence reduces the impulsive forc
e acting on the high jumper.
Jumping A jumper bends his/her leg during landing. This is to increase the react
ion time and hence reduce the impact of impulsive force acting on the leg of the
jumper. Crumble Zone The crumple zone increases the reaction time of collision
during an accident. This causes the impulsive force to be reduced and hence redu
ces the risk of injuries.
Seat Belt
Prevent the driver and passengers from being flung forward or thrown out of the
car during an emergency break. Airbag
The inflated airbag during an accident acts as a cushion to lessen the impact wh
en the driver flings forward hitting the steering wheel or dashboard. Head Rest
Reduce neck injury when driver and passengers are thrown backwards when the car
is banged from backward. Windscreen Shatter-proof glass is used so that it will
not break into small pieces when broken. This may reduce injuries caused by scat
tered glass. Padded Dashboard Cover with soft material. This may increases the r
eaction time and hence reduce the impulsive force when passenger knocking on it
in accident. Collapsible Steering Columns The steering will swing away from driv
ers chest during collision. This may reduce the impulsive force acting on the dri
ver. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Prevent the wheels from locking when brake a
pplied suddenly by adjusting the pressure of the brake fluid. This can prevents
the car from skidding.
Bumper Made of elastic material so that it can increases the reaction time and h
ence reduces the impulsive force caused by collision. Passenger Safety Cell The
body of the car is made from strong, rigid stell cage. This may prevent the car
from collapsing on the passengers during a car crash. Gravitational Field A grav
itational field as a region in which an object experiences a force due to gravit
ational attraction. Gravitational Field Strength The gravitational field strengt
h at a point in the gravitational field is the gravitational force acting on a m
ass of 1 kg placed at that point. The unit of gravitational field strength is N/
kg. The gravitational field strength is denoted by the symbol "g". Gravitational
Field Strength Formula Gravitational Acceleration The gravitational acceleratio
n is the acceleration of an object due to the pull of the gravitational force. T
he unit of gravitational acceleration is ms-2 Gravitational acceleratio is also
denoted by the symbol "g". Symbol: g Important notes:
Gravitational acceleration does not depend on the mass of the moving object. The
magnitude of gravitational acceleration is taken to be 10ms-2.
Gravitational Field Strength vs. Gravitational Acceleration
Both the gravitational field strength and gravitational acceleration have the sy
mbol, g and the same value (10ms-2) on the surface of the earth. When considerin
g a body falling freely, the g is the gravitational acceleration. When consideri
ng objects at rest, g is the Earths gravitational field strength acting on it.
Weight The weight of an object is defined as the gravitational force acting on t
he object. The SI unit of weight is Newton (N) Differences between Weight and Ma
ss Weight Depends on the gravitational field strength Mass Independent from the
gravitational field strength
Diagram above shows a lorry pulling a log with an iron cable. If the tension of
the cable is 3000N and the friction between the log and the ground is 500N, find
the horizontal force that acting on the log. Answer: Horizontal component of th
e tension = 3000 cos30o =2598N Friction = 500N Resultant horizontal force = 2598
N - 500N =2098N Example 2
Diagram above shows two forces of magnitude 25N are acting on an object of mass
2kg. Find the acceleration of object P, in ms-2. Answer: Horizontal component of
the forces = 25cos45o + 25cos45o = 35.36N Vertical component of the forces = 25
sin45o - 25sin45o = 0N The acceleration of the object can be determined by the e
quation F = ma (35.36) = (2)a a = 17.68 ms-2
Inclined Plane
Weight component along the plane = Wsin.
Vectors in E uilibrium
When 3 vectors are in e uilibrium, the resultant vector = 0. After joining all t
he vectors tail to head, the head of the last vector will join to the tail of th
e first vector. Forces in e uilibrium Forces are in e uilibrium means the result
ant force in all directions are zero. When the forces acting on an object are ba
lanced, they cancel each other out. The net force is zero. Effect :
an object at rest is continuely at rest [ velocity = 0] a moving object will mov
e at constant velocity [ a = 0]
Example 1
Diagram above shows a load of mass 500g is hung on a string C, which is tied to
2 other strings A and B. Find the tension of string A. Answer:
Tension of string C, TC = weight of the load = 5N All forces in the system are i
n e uilibrium, hence Vertical component of tension A (TA) = TC TAcos60o = TC TA
= TC/cos60o TA = 5/cos60o = 10N
Work 1. Work done by a constant force is given by the product of the force and t
he distance moved in the direction of the force. 2. The unit of Nm(Newton metre)
or J(Joule).
b. the work done by the frictional force Asnwer: (a) The force is in the same di
rection of the motion. Work done by the pulling force, W = F s = (10)(2) = 20J (
b) The force is not in the same direction of motion, work done by the frictional
force W = F s cos180o= (5)(2)(-1) = -10J Work Done Against the Force of Gravity
Example 3 Ranjit runs up a staircase of 35 steps. Each steps is 15cm in height.
Given that Ranjit's mass is 45kg, find the work done by Ranjit to reach the top
of the staircase. Answer: In this case, Ranjit does work to overcome the gravity
. Ranjit's mass = 45kg Vertical height of the motion, h = 35 0.15 Gravitational
field strength, g = 10 ms-2 Work done, W = ? W = mgh = (45)(10)(35 0.15) = 2362.
5J Finding Work from Force-Displacement Graph
In a Force-Displacement graph, work done is e ual to the area in between the gra
ph and the horizontal axis. Example 4
The graph above shows the force acting on a trolley of 5 kg mass over a distance
of 10 m. Find the work done by the force to move the trolley. Answer:In a Force
-Displacement graph, work done is e ual to the area below the graph. Therefore,
work done
Energy Energy is defined as the capacity to do work. Work is done when energy is
converted from one form to another. Nm or Joule(J) Gravitational Potential Ener
gy Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object as the resul
t of its vertical position (i.e., height). Formula:
Example 1 A ball of 1kg mass is droppped from a height of 4m. What is the maximu
m kinetic energy possessed by the ball before it reached the ground? Answer Acco
rding to the principle of conservation of energy, the amount of potential energy
losses is e ual to the amount of kinetic energy gain. Maximum kinetic energy =
Maximum potentila energy losses = mgh = (1)(10)(4) = 40J Elastic Potential Energ
y Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the resu
lt of their stretching or compressing. Formula:
Example 2
Diagram above shows a spring with a load of mass 0.5kg. The extention of the spr
ing is 6cm, find the energy stored in the spring.
Answer: The energy stored in the spring is the elestic potential energy.
Kinetic Energy Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. E uation of Kinetic Energ
y
Example 1
Relationship between Energy and Work Done
During a conversing of energy, Amount of Work Done = Amount of Energy Converted
Example A trolley of 5 kg mass moving against friction of 5 N. Its velocity at A
is 4ms-1 and it stops at B after 4 seconds. What is the work done to overcome t
he friction? Answer: In this case, kinetic energy is converted into heat energy
due to the friction. The work done to overcome the friction is e ual to the amou
nt of kinetic energy converted into heat energy, hence Power Power is the rate a
t which work is done, which means how fast a work is done. Formula:
Example 1 An electric motor takes 20 s to lift a box of mass 20kg to a height of
1.5 m. Find the amount of work done by the machine and hence find the power of
the electric motor.
The higher the gradient, the greater the spring constant and the harder (stiffer
) spring. For example, the stiffness of spring A is greater than spring B.
Spring
Arrangement in series: Extension = x number of spring Stiffness decreases Spring
constant = k/number of spring
Arrangement in parallel: Extension = x number of spring Stiffness increases Spri
ng constant = k number of spring
Factors Affecting the Stiffness of Spring Stiffer Less stiff