Module One

FURTHER MECHANICS

Introduction

This module should be read in conjunction with the Programme of Study.

The Programme of Study lists the topics that are in the module and gives you the relevant page references for your textbook. This module aims to give you more direction as you work through the various topics. It will aim to highlight the most important items in the topic, as well as areas that need particular care. It will also point you towards the resources you should be using.

Remember to double-check the syllabus to make sure you cover all the items that you need to.

Module Overview

This module extends your understanding of Newton’s Laws of Motion. It also covers forces acting during collisions, changes in energy and momentum. Momentum is the science that is critical in many sports. A change of momentum is the result of a force acting for a certain period of time. In more advanced Physics, we tend to use Newton’s second law in the form “force equals rate of change of momentum” rather than LaTeX: F = ma.

Momentum also becomes important in other aspects of Physics. In collisions, we treat momentum as always conserved, whereas kinetic energy is conserved only in perfectly elastic collisions. Remember that momentum is a vector and this is important even in rectilinear motion, where momentum may be positive or negative.

This module also introduces circular motion, angular displacement and angular velocity. This will help you to understand the movement of many objects, ranging from electrons to galaxies.

A body moving in a circle is not in equilibrium. Whether acted on by a single force or by several, the resultant of these forces acts towards the centre of the motion and is called the centripetal force.

Make careful notes on the contents of each Practical Skills box in the textbook as you come across it because they contain experiments on which you could be tested in the final examination.

Maths required for this module

You will need to:

  • Use units of measurement e.g. LaTeX: \color{blue}kg\ ms^{-1} (unit for momentum) and its dimensionally equivalent LaTeX: \color{blue}N\ s (unit for impulse).
  • Use Pythagoras’ theorem, sin, cos, tan and angle sum of a triangle e.g. resolving vectors.
  • Use angles in 2D structures.
  • Rearrange equations.
  • Substitute numerical values in algebraic equations.
  • Use small angle approximation.
  • Determine the slope of a linear graph.

Revision tasks

You will be building on what you already know about Newton’s Laws of Motion, conservation of energy and conservation of linear momentum. Read your AS Physics notes/textbook to remind you of these topics. Make sure you are familiar with displacement, velocity, acceleration, adding and resolving vectors and radians, calculating kinetic energy and momentum.

Topics

Topic One (1.1): Energy in Collisions

Topic Two (1.2): More Collisions

Topic Three (1.3): Circular Motion Basics

Topic Four (1.4): Centripetal Force