P5: Forces & Elasticity Physics GCSE

• What are the two types of quantities?

  A scalar and a vector
• What defines a scalar quantity?

  It has only a magnitude
• What characterizes a vector quantity?

  It has both magnitude and direction
• Why is it necessary to mention direction when describing velocity?

  Because velocity includes both speed and direction
• How would you describe the velocity of a car?

  60 km per hour in a Westerly direction
• What does distance measure?

  How long an object is or how far between points
• Is distance a scalar or vector quantity?


  Scalar quantity
• What does displacement measure?

  Distance with direction
• What are the commonly confused pairs of scalars and vectors?

  Distance and displacement, Speed and velocity
• How does distance differ from displacement?

  Distance measures the path length; displacement measures straight line
• Why is displacement often less than distance traveled?

  Because it measures the shortest path between points
• How can a vector be represented visually?

  Using an arrow
• What does the length of an arrow in a vector represent?

  The magnitude of the vector
• What does the direction of an arrow in a vector indicate?

  The direction of the vector
• If a tennis ball is thrown at an angle of 45° at a speed of 5 m/s, how would you draw its velocity vector?

  Draw an arrow at a 45° angle
• How would you represent a second tennis ball thrown at 10 m/s?

  Draw an arrow twice as long as the first
• What is a force defined as?

  A push or pull acting on an object
• What can forces change about an object?

  Speed, direction, and shape
• What is thrust?

  The force causing an object to move
• How does gravitational attraction affect a comet?

  It can change the comet's direction
• What is weight?

  The force of gravity on a mass
• What is electrostatic force?

  The force between two charged objects
• What is air resistance also known as?

  Drag
• What is upthrust?

  The force of a fluid pushing an object upwards
• What is tension?

  Force transmitted through a cable or string
• What is a contact force?

  A force acting between physically touching objects
• What is friction?

  A force that opposes motion
• What is air resistance?

  A type of friction when moving through air
• What is a non-contact force?

  A force acting at a distance without contact
• What is gravitational attraction?

  The attractive force between two objects with mass
• What is electrostatic force?

  A force between charged objects that can attract or repel
• What is magnetic force?

  A force between magnetic poles that can attract or repel
• In the scenario of Ben dragging a sledge, what contact forces are involved?

  Tension, reaction force, and friction
• What non-contact force acts on Ben and the sledge?

  Gravitational attraction
• What is a force pair?

  Forces exerted on each object in an interaction
• How are force pairs represented?

  By arrows in vector diagrams
• What is weight defined as?

  The force acting on an object due to gravity
• How does mass relate to weight?

  More mass means larger weight force
• How is weight measured?

  In Newtons (N)
• What is the gravitational field strength on Earth?

  $9.81 \text{ m/s}^2$