OCR A A-Level Physics Paper 1
Study
Displacement
The distance travelled in a particular direction - it is a vector with magnitude and
direction.
Instantaneous Speed
The rate of change of distance at a specific moment in time - change in distance divided
by an infinitesimal interval of time.
Average Speed
The rate of change of distance calculated over a complete journey
Velocity
A vector quantity equal to the rate of change of displacement.
Average Velocity
The change in displacement (Δs) for a journey divided by the time taken (Δt).
Acceleration
A vector quantity equal to the rate of change of velocity.
Stopping distance
The distance travelled until the car stops (thinking distance + braking distance)
Thinking distance
Distance travelled while the driver reacts
Braking distance
The distance travelled between the instant the brakes are applied and the instant the
vehicle stops completely.
Free fall
The motion of an object accelerating under gravity with no other (significant) forces
acting
Projectile
An object that is thrown or propelled on the surface of the Earth
Time of flight
The duration of an object's free movement through a fluid
Weight
The gravitational force on an object, measured in Newtons, N.
Centre of gravity
Point on an object where all forces can be assumed to act
Plumb-line
A string with a weight used to provide a vertical reference line.
Free-body diagram
A diagram that represents all the forces acting on a single object.
Normal contact force
The perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an object.
Drag force
The resistive force exerted by a fluid on an object moving through it.
Terminal velocity
The maximum velocity reached when an object's weight is equal to the drag force acting
on it.
Moment
Study
Displacement
The distance travelled in a particular direction - it is a vector with magnitude and
direction.
Instantaneous Speed
The rate of change of distance at a specific moment in time - change in distance divided
by an infinitesimal interval of time.
Average Speed
The rate of change of distance calculated over a complete journey
Velocity
A vector quantity equal to the rate of change of displacement.
Average Velocity
The change in displacement (Δs) for a journey divided by the time taken (Δt).
Acceleration
A vector quantity equal to the rate of change of velocity.
Stopping distance
The distance travelled until the car stops (thinking distance + braking distance)
Thinking distance
Distance travelled while the driver reacts
Braking distance
The distance travelled between the instant the brakes are applied and the instant the
vehicle stops completely.
Free fall
The motion of an object accelerating under gravity with no other (significant) forces
acting
Projectile
An object that is thrown or propelled on the surface of the Earth
Time of flight
The duration of an object's free movement through a fluid
Weight
The gravitational force on an object, measured in Newtons, N.
Centre of gravity
Point on an object where all forces can be assumed to act
Plumb-line
A string with a weight used to provide a vertical reference line.
Free-body diagram
A diagram that represents all the forces acting on a single object.
Normal contact force
The perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an object.
Drag force
The resistive force exerted by a fluid on an object moving through it.
Terminal velocity
The maximum velocity reached when an object's weight is equal to the drag force acting
on it.
Moment
