Free VCE Physics Flashcard Review
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State Newton's First Law of Motion
An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in uniform motion in a straight line, unless acted upon by a net external force.
State Newton's Second Law of Motion and give the formula
The net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. Formula: F_net = ma or F = dp/dt where p is momentum.
State Newton's Third Law of Motion
For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force acting on different objects.
Define projectile motion
Motion of an object launched into the air that follows a parabolic path, where horizontal velocity remains constant and vertical motion is governed by gravitational acceleration.
Give the kinematic equations for projectile motion in the vertical direction
v_y = u_y + gt; s_y = u_y*t + (1/2)gt2; v_y2 = u_y2 + 2g*s_y; where g = 9.8 m/s2 and positive direction is typically downward.
Define circular motion
Motion of an object moving in a circular path at constant speed, where velocity is always tangent to the circle and acceleration is directed toward the centre (centripetal acceleration).
Give the formula for centripetal acceleration
a_c = v2/r = ω2r, where v is tangential speed, r is radius, and ω is angular velocity in rad/s.
Give the formula for centripetal force
F_c = mv2/r = mω2r, where m is mass, v is tangential speed, r is radius, and ω is angular velocity.
State Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
The gravitational force between two point masses is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. F = G(m1m2)/r2, where G = 6.67 × 10-11 N m2 kg-2.
Define gravitational field strength
The gravitational force per unit mass at a point in a gravitational field. Symbol g, units N/kg or m/s2. At Earth's surface, g ≈ 9.8 m/s2.
Give the formula for gravitational potential energy
E_p = mgh (near Earth's surface); or E_p = -G(m1m2)/r (for point masses, with reference at infinity).
Define momentum
The product of an object's mass and velocity. Symbol p, units kg m/s. Formula: p = mv. It is a vector quantity.
State the principle of conservation of momentum
In a closed system with no external forces, the total momentum before a collision or interaction equals the total momentum after.
Define kinetic energy and give the formula
The energy of motion. E_k = (1/2)mv2, where m is mass and v is speed. Units: joules (J).
State the work-energy theorem
The net work done on an object equals the change in its kinetic energy: W_net = ΔE_k = (1/2)m(v_f2 - v_i2).
Define electric field strength and give the formula
The electric force per unit charge at a point in an electric field. Symbol E, units N/C or V/m. Formula: E = F/q or E = kQ/r2, where k = 8.99 × 109 N m2 C-2.
State Coulomb's Law
The electrostatic force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. F = k(q1q2)/r2, where k = 8.99 × 109 N m2 C-2.
Define electric potential and give the formula
The electric potential energy per unit charge. Symbol V, units volts (V) or J/C. Formula: V = W/q or V = kQ/r for a point charge.
Define the motor effect
The force exerted on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. Formula: F = BIl sin(θ), where B is magnetic flux density, I is current, l is conductor length, and θ is the angle between conductor and field.
Define magnetic flux and give the formula
The product of magnetic field strength and the area perpendicular to the field. Symbol Φ, units weber (Wb). Formula: Φ = BA cos(θ), where B is magnetic flux density, A is area, and θ is angle to normal.