IGCSE Physics Syllabus 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is used to find length or volume?

Rulers and measuring cylinders.

What is used to measure a variety of time intervals?

Clocks and digital timers.

How can you measure an average value for small distances or intervals, such as the period of oscillation of a pendulum?

By measuring multiples, measure a certain time and distance and divide until you get an average.

What is a scalar quantity?

A value with magnitude only. Signup and view all the answers

What is a vector quantity?

A value with both magnitude and direction. Signup and view all the answers

Give 6 examples of scalar quantities.

Distance, speed, time, mass, energy, and temperature. Signup and view all the answers

Give 7 examples of vector quantities.

Force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric/gravitational field strength. Signup and view all the answers

What is the resultant of two vectors at right angles?

Use trigonometry or Pythagoras' theorem for values. Signup and view all the answers

What is speed and its equation?

Distance travelled per unit time; $v = s/t$ or $s = d/t$. Signup and view all the answers

What is velocity?

Speed in a given direction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average speed equation?

Total distance travelled divided by total time taken. Signup and view all the answers

What is acceleration and its equation?

Change in velocity per unit time; $a = rac{Δv}{Δt}$. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object at rest look like in a distance-time graph?

A flat line. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object moving with constant speed look like in a distance-time graph?

A straight positive diagonal. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object accelerating look like in a distance-time graph?

A positive upwards curve. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object decelerating look like in a distance-time graph?

Curve plateauing. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object at rest look like in a speed-time graph?

Horizontal line on the bottom. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object moving with constant speed look like in a speed-time graph?

Horizontal line at any value. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object at a constant acceleration look like in a speed-time graph?

Straight positive diagonal. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object with changing acceleration look like in a speed-time graph?

Curve. Signup and view all the answers

What does an object decelerating look like in a speed-time graph?

Straight negative diagonal. Signup and view all the answers

How can speed be calculated in a distance-time graph?

Gradient. Signup and view all the answers

How can acceleration be calculated in a speed-time graph?

Gradient. Signup and view all the answers

How can distance be calculated in a speed-time graph?

Area under graph. Signup and view all the answers

What is deceleration?

A negative acceleration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the acceleration of free fall (g) of an object near the surface of the Earth?

9.8 m/s². Signup and view all the answers

What is the motion of objects falling in the absence of air resistance?

Fall with the same acceleration, regardless of mass; the speed will increase at a steady rate (accelerate). Signup and view all the answers

What is the motion of objects falling with fluid resistance?

Will experience weight (gravity) and friction (air resistance). Initially, there are unbalanced forces as air resistance is small due to low speed; force of air resistance increases with speed until air resistance equals weight and forces are balanced (no resultant force); acceleration becomes zero and object moves at constant speed, terminal velocity. Signup and view all the answers

What is mass?

A measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to an observer. Signup and view all the answers

What is weight?

The effect of gravitational force/field on a mass. Signup and view all the answers

What is gravitational field strength and its equation?

A force per unit mass; $g = \frac{W}{m}$. Signup and view all the answers

How can weights and masses be compared?

Using a balance. Signup and view all the answers

What is density and its equation?

Mass per unit volume; $p = \frac{m}{v}$. Signup and view all the answers

How to determine the density of a liquid or regular-shaped solid?

Measure the mass by a balance and volume by calculation or using a measuring cylinder. Signup and view all the answers

How to determine the density of an irregularly shaped solid?

Measure mass by a balance and volume by displacement of a liquid. Signup and view all the answers

How can an object float?

If its density is less than the liquid it is in (e.g., water). Signup and view all the answers

How can a liquid float on another liquid?

If its density is less than the other liquid and they are immiscible. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Measurement Tools

Rulers and measuring cylinders are used for finding length and volume.
Clocks and digital timers measure various time intervals.

Average Measurements

To determine an average value for small distances or time intervals, multiple measurements are made and divided for an average.

Scalar and Vector Quantities

Scalar quantities have magnitude only (e.g., distance, speed, time, mass, energy, temperature).
Vector quantities possess both magnitude and direction (e.g., force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, field strength).

Vector Operations

Calculate the resultant of two vectors at right angles using trigonometry or Pythagorean theorem.

Speed and Velocity

Speed is defined as the distance travelled per unit time, with the formula v = s/t or s = d/t.
Velocity refers to speed in a specific direction.

Average Speed

Average speed calculated using total distance travelled divided by total time taken.

Acceleration

Acceleration is the change in velocity per unit time, represented by the formula a = Δv/Δt.

Distance-Time Graphs

A flat line indicates an object at rest.
A straight positive diagonal represents constant speed.
A positive upward curve shows an accelerating object.
A curving plateau indicates an object is decelerating.

Speed-Time Graphs

A horizontal line at the bottom indicates an object at rest.
A horizontal line at any value shows constant speed.
A straight positive diagonal indicates constant acceleration.
Curves reveal changing acceleration; a straight negative diagonal shows deceleration.

Calculating Movement

Speed in a distance-time graph is determined by the gradient.
Acceleration in a speed-time graph is also calculated using the gradient.
The area under a speed-time graph represents the distance travelled.

Acceleration Concepts

Deceleration is defined as negative acceleration.
The acceleration of free fall (g) near Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 m/s².

Falling Objects

In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall with the same acceleration, regardless of mass.
Falling objects with fluid resistance experience a balance of forces leading to terminal velocity.

Mass and Weight

Mass is the quantity of matter in an object, measured relative to an observer.
Weight is the effect of gravitational force/field acting on a mass.

Gravitational Field Strength

It is a force per unit mass, equal to the acceleration due to gravity, represented by the equation g = W/m.

Density Calculations

Density is defined as mass per unit volume with the formula ρ = m/v.
Determine the density of a liquid/regular solid by measuring mass and volume.
Use liquid displacement to find the volume of an irregularly shaped solid.

Buoyancy

An object floats if its density is less than the liquid it is in.
A liquid can float on another liquid if its density is lower and the liquids are immiscible.

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Test your knowledge of key physics concepts with these flashcards based on the IGCSE Physics syllabus. Each card provides a term and its definition, enhancing your understanding of measurement tools and techniques. Ideal for revision and quick learning!