AQA
3.4 Mechanics and Materials
This section starts with vectors and then looks at topics including energy, forces and momentum. Later on there is the study of materials and their bulk properties.
Learning Checklist
3.4.1 Force, Energy and Momentum
Scalars and Vectors
3
Two types of quantities
Free Body Diagrams
1
Understanding forces on objects
Speed and Velocity
2
How fast something moves
'suvat' Equations of Motion
3
Constant acceleration motion
Projectile Motion
3
Independence of motion axes
Drag and Resistance
1
Forces opposing motion
Newton's Laws
5
The three big laws of motion
Collisions
1
Elastic and inelastic collisions
Mechanical Power
3
Rate of energy transfer
Mass and Weight
2
Two very different quantities
Moments
2
Turning effect of a force
Motion Graphs
3
Visualising object movement
Stopping Distances
1
For vehicles coming to a halt
The Monkey and Hunter
1
Projectile motion example
Terminal Velocity
1
No resultant force acting
Linear Momentum
3
Quantity of motion
Energy
5
How energy is stored
3.4.2 Materials
Density
1
'Stuff' per volume
Stress and Strain
4
This is mechanical engineering!
Springs
3
Common in A Level Physics
Practical Experiments
Practical - Freefall
1
Calculating 'g'
Practical - Young Modulus
6
Measuring the Young modulus of a metal