Level 5 · Science S5.9

Mechanics

Mechanics uses a few laws to predict how things move, swing and collide.

Planned. This book is not written yet. Below is its plan, which a teacher can already use.

You are ready for this book if

You can use force equals mass times acceleration to find a missing value.

The plan

  1. S5.9.1 Vectors and equilibrium
    • Resolve forces into parts and add them as vectors
    • Solve problems on objects in equilibrium using moments
  2. S5.9.2 Motion in a straight line
    • Use the equations of uniform acceleration
    • Find displacement from the area under a velocity and time graph
  3. S5.9.3 Projectiles
    • Treat the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile separately
    • Estimate g by timing a stone dropped from a measured height
  4. S5.9.4 Momentum and impulse
    • Use conservation of momentum in one and two dimensions
    • Find impulse from the area under a force and time graph
  5. S5.9.5 Work, energy and power
    • Apply energy conservation to problems with friction
    • Tell elastic and inelastic collisions apart using kinetic energy
  6. S5.9.6 Circular motion
    • Calculate centripetal acceleration and force
    • Explain the forces on a vehicle going round a bend
  7. S5.9.7 Simple harmonic motion
    • Use the equations of simple harmonic motion
    • Measure g with a pendulum made from string and a stone
    • Explain damping and resonance with everyday examples
  8. S5.9.8 Materials and elasticity
    • Calculate stress, strain and the Young modulus
    • Interpret stress and strain graphs for metals, rubber and glass

For parents and teachers

Level 5 fits learners who can already: read a textbook. use functions and graphs. In many schools that is about 17 to 20, but start wherever the learner is.

Strand: Forces and motion. Written and drawn by attnom. Free to read, print and share.