Physics Topic: Motion and Forces

show an understanding of and use the terms position, distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration

use graphical methods to represent distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration

identify and use the physical quantities from the gradients of position–time or displacement–time graphs and areas under and gradients of velocity-time graphs, including cases of non-uniform acceleration

derive, from the definitions of velocity and acceleration, equations which represent uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line

solve problems using equations which represent uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line, e.g. for bodies falling vertically without air resistance in a uniform gravitational field

show an understanding that mass is the property of a body which resists change in motion (inertia)

define and use linear momentum as the product of mass and velocity

state and apply each of Newton’s laws of motion:

1st law: a body at rest will stay at rest, and a body in motion will continue to move at constant velocity, unless acted on by a resultant external force;

2nd law: the rate of change of momentum of a body is (directly) proportional to the resultant force acting on the body and is in the same direction as the resultant force;

3rd law: the force exerted by one body on a second body is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force simultaneously exerted by the second body on the first body.

recall the relationship resultant force F = ma, for a body of constant mass, and use this to solve problems.