6.3.1

Scalars & Vectors

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Scalars and Vectors

Scalars are quantities with a magnitude (size) only. Vectors have a magnitude (size) and a direction.

Mass

Mass

Mass is a scalar.
- Mass describes how much of something there is.
- Mass has no direction.

Distance vs displacement

Distance vs displacement

Distance is a scalar.
- Distance describes how far something has travelled.
Displacement is a vector.
- Displacement describes the distance from one place to another.
- Displacement also describes the direction from the start to the end.
E.g. If an ant travels 6 metres east then 2 metres west:
- Distance = 8 metres.
- Displacement = 4 metres east.

Speed vs velocity

Speed vs velocity

Speed is a scalar.
- Speed describes how fast something is travelling but says nothing about direction.
Velocity is a vector.
- Velocity describes how fast something is going and in what direction.

Force

Force

Force is a vector.
- We need to know the magnitude (size) of the force and also the direction it acts.
Weight is an example of a force and so weight is a vector.

Acceleration

Acceleration

Acceleration is a vector.
- We must know the magnitude (how quickly something is speeding up) and the direction (in which direction it is speeding up).

Addition of Vectors - Drawing

In physics, it is often important to add vectors together. For example, when calculating the resultant force on an object.

Head to tail

Head to tail

We can add vectors together by drawing them head to tail.
Consider these two velocities acting on a man who is walking on a moving train.

Resultant force

Resultant force

By accurately drawing the two vectors head to tail, we can measure the resultant velocity of the man.

Addition of Vectors - Calculation

Instead of using a drawing, we can sometimes use a right-angled triangle to add vectors.

Resultant force

Resultant force

Consider the forces acting on this object.

Right-angled triangle

Right-angled triangle

We can form a right-angled triangle with these two vectors head to tail.

Pythagoras and trigonometry

Pythagoras and trigonometry

Vectors can be added by visualising the vectors forming a closed triangle.
Pythagoras and trigonometry can then be used to find a missing side.

1

Space, Time & Motion

1.1

Motion

1.1.1Motion Basics 1.1.2Graphs of Motion 1.1.3Uniform Acceleration Equations 1.1.4Projectile Motion 1.1.5Bouncing Ball Example

1.2

Forces

1.2.1Friction 1.2.2Terminal Speed 1.2.3Newton's Laws 1.2.4Exam-Style Question - Forces 1.2.5End of Topic Test - Newton's Third Law

1.3

Momentum & Impulse

1.3.1Momentum 1.3.2Momentum 2 1.3.3End of Topic Test - Newton's Laws & Momentum

1.4

Work, Energy & Power

1.4.1Work & Energy 1.4.2Conservation of Energy 1.4.3Power & Efficiency 1.4.4IB Multiple Choice- Work, Energy & Power

2

The Particulate Nature of Matter

2.1

Thermal Concepts

2.1.1Molecular Kinetic Theory Model 2.1.2Molecular Kinetic Theory Model 2 2.1.3Thermal Energy Transfer 2.1.4Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments 2.1.5Thermal Equilibrium 2.1.6Thermal Conductivity 2.1.7Heat Energy Transfer

2.2

Modelling a Gas

2.2.1Ideal Gases 2.2.2Ideal Gases 2 2.2.3End of Topic Test - Thermal Energy & Ideal Gases 2.2.4Exam-Style Question - Ideal Gases

3

Wave Behaviour

3.1

Oscillations

3.1.1Progressive Waves 3.1.2Simple Harmonic Motion

3.2

Travelling Waves

3.2.1Wave Speed & Phase Difference 3.2.2Longitudinal & Transverse Waves 3.2.3Electromagnetic Waves 3.2.4Electromagnetic Waves 2 3.2.5Sound Waves

3.3

Wave Characteristics

3.3.1Polarisation

3.4

Wave Behaviour

3.4.1Reflection & Absorption 3.4.2Reflection of Light 3.4.3Refraction 3.4.4Refractive index

3.5

Standing Waves

3.5.1Standing Waves 3.5.2Standing Waves 2 3.5.3End of Topic Test - Standing Waves 3.5.4IB Multiple Choice - Waves

3.6

Simple Harmonic Motion

3.6.1Simple Harmonic Motion 3.6.2Simple Harmonic Systems 3.6.3Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion 3.6.4End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion 3.6.5End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion

3.7

Single Slit Diffraction

3.7.1Diffraction

3.8

Interference

3.8.1Interference 3.8.2Interference 2 3.8.3Diffraction Gratings 3.8.4End of Topic Test - Diffraction

3.9

Doppler Effect

3.9.1Doppler Effect

4

Fields

4.1

Circular Motion

4.1.1Circular Motion 4.1.2Centripetal Force 4.1.3IB Multiple Choice - Circular Motion

4.2

Newton's Law of Gravitation

4.2.1Newton's Law 4.2.2Orbits of Planets & Satellites 4.2.3Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits 4.2.4End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields

4.3

Fields

4.3.1Fields 4.3.2Gravitational Field Strength 4.3.3Gravitational Potential 4.3.4Electric Field Strength 4.3.5Electrostatic & Gravitational Forces 4.3.6Electric Potential 4.3.7IB Multiple Choice - Gravitational Fields

4.4

Fields at Work

4.4.1Radial Field Strength 4.4.2Orbits of Planets & Satellites 4.4.3Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits 4.4.4End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields 4.4.5Uniform Electric Fields 4.4.6IB Multiple Choice - Electric Field & Potential

4.5

Electric Fields

4.5.1Electric Charge 4.5.2Conservation of Charge 4.5.3Coulomb's Law 4.5.4Current 4.5.5Potential Difference 4.5.6IB Multiple Choice - Electric Charge

4.6

Magnetic Effect of Electric Currents

4.6.1Magnetism 4.6.2Magnetic Field 4.6.3Magnetic Force 4.6.4Moving Charges in a Magnetic Field 4.6.5IB Multiple Choice - Magnetism

4.7

Heating Effect of Currents

4.7.1Circuits 4.7.2Resistance 4.7.3Power and Conservation 4.7.4IB Multiple Choice - DC Circuits

4.8

Electromagnetic Induction

4.8.1Electromagnetic Induction 4.8.2Electromagnetic Induction 2 4.8.3Magnetic Flux & Flux Linkage 4.8.4End of Topic Test - Electromagnetic Induction

4.9

Power Generation & Transmission

4.9.1Alternating Currents 4.9.2Operation of a Transformer

4.10

Capacitance

4.10.1Capacitance 4.10.2Parallel Plate Capacitor 4.10.3Energy Stored by a Capacitor 4.10.4Capacitor Discharge 4.10.5Capacitor Charge 4.10.6Magnetic Flux Density 4.10.7End of Topic Test - Capacitance & Flux Density

5

Nuclear & Quantum Physics

5.1

Discrete Energy & Radioactivity

5.1.1Atomic Spectra 5.1.2Atomic Structure 5.1.3Photons 5.1.4Discrete Energy Levels 5.1.5Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation 5.1.6Scientific Practices - Unstable Nuclei 5.1.7Radioactive Decay 5.1.8IB Multiple Choice - Atomic Physics

5.2

Nuclear Reactions

5.2.1Mass & Energy 5.2.2Nuclear Fission

5.3

The Interaction of Matter with Radiation

5.3.1Particles, Antiparticles & Photons 5.3.2Particle Interactions 5.3.3Classification of Particles 5.3.4Wave-Particle Duality 5.3.5Wave Functions & Probability 5.3.6IB Multiple Choice - Quantum Physics

5.4

Nuclear Physics

5.4.1Nuclear Instability & Radioactive Decay 5.4.2Nuclear Radius 5.4.3IB Multiple Choice - Nuclear Physics

6

Measurements

6.1

Measurements & Errors

6.1.1Fundamental Units 6.1.2SI Prefixes, Standard Form & Converting Units 6.1.3End of Topic Test - Units & Prefixes

6.2

Uncertainties & Errors

6.2.1Limitation of Physical Measurements 6.2.2Uncertainty 6.2.3Estimation 6.2.4End of Topic Test - Measurements & Errors

6.3

Vectors & Scalars

6.3.1Scalars & Vectors 6.3.2Vector Problems

Jump to other topics

1

Space, Time & Motion

1.1

Motion

1.1.1Motion Basics 1.1.2Graphs of Motion 1.1.3Uniform Acceleration Equations 1.1.4Projectile Motion 1.1.5Bouncing Ball Example

1.2

Forces

1.2.1Friction 1.2.2Terminal Speed 1.2.3Newton's Laws 1.2.4Exam-Style Question - Forces 1.2.5End of Topic Test - Newton's Third Law

1.3

Momentum & Impulse

1.3.1Momentum 1.3.2Momentum 2 1.3.3End of Topic Test - Newton's Laws & Momentum

1.4

Work, Energy & Power

1.4.1Work & Energy 1.4.2Conservation of Energy 1.4.3Power & Efficiency 1.4.4IB Multiple Choice- Work, Energy & Power

2

The Particulate Nature of Matter

2.1

Thermal Concepts

2.1.1Molecular Kinetic Theory Model 2.1.2Molecular Kinetic Theory Model 2 2.1.3Thermal Energy Transfer 2.1.4Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments 2.1.5Thermal Equilibrium 2.1.6Thermal Conductivity 2.1.7Heat Energy Transfer

2.2

Modelling a Gas

2.2.1Ideal Gases 2.2.2Ideal Gases 2 2.2.3End of Topic Test - Thermal Energy & Ideal Gases 2.2.4Exam-Style Question - Ideal Gases

3

Wave Behaviour

3.1

Oscillations

3.1.1Progressive Waves 3.1.2Simple Harmonic Motion

3.2

Travelling Waves

3.2.1Wave Speed & Phase Difference 3.2.2Longitudinal & Transverse Waves 3.2.3Electromagnetic Waves 3.2.4Electromagnetic Waves 2 3.2.5Sound Waves

3.3

Wave Characteristics

3.3.1Polarisation

3.4

Wave Behaviour

3.4.1Reflection & Absorption 3.4.2Reflection of Light 3.4.3Refraction 3.4.4Refractive index

3.5

Standing Waves

3.5.1Standing Waves 3.5.2Standing Waves 2 3.5.3End of Topic Test - Standing Waves 3.5.4IB Multiple Choice - Waves

3.6

Simple Harmonic Motion

3.6.1Simple Harmonic Motion 3.6.2Simple Harmonic Systems 3.6.3Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion 3.6.4End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion 3.6.5End of Topic Test - Simple Harmonic Motion

3.7

Single Slit Diffraction

3.7.1Diffraction

3.8

Interference

3.8.1Interference 3.8.2Interference 2 3.8.3Diffraction Gratings 3.8.4End of Topic Test - Diffraction

3.9

Doppler Effect

3.9.1Doppler Effect

4

Fields

4.1

Circular Motion

4.1.1Circular Motion 4.1.2Centripetal Force 4.1.3IB Multiple Choice - Circular Motion

4.2

Newton's Law of Gravitation

4.2.1Newton's Law 4.2.2Orbits of Planets & Satellites 4.2.3Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits 4.2.4End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields

4.3

Fields

4.3.1Fields 4.3.2Gravitational Field Strength 4.3.3Gravitational Potential 4.3.4Electric Field Strength 4.3.5Electrostatic & Gravitational Forces 4.3.6Electric Potential 4.3.7IB Multiple Choice - Gravitational Fields

4.4

Fields at Work

4.4.1Radial Field Strength 4.4.2Orbits of Planets & Satellites 4.4.3Escape Velocity & Synchronous Orbits 4.4.4End of Topic Test - Gravitational Fields 4.4.5Uniform Electric Fields 4.4.6IB Multiple Choice - Electric Field & Potential

4.5

Electric Fields

4.5.1Electric Charge 4.5.2Conservation of Charge 4.5.3Coulomb's Law 4.5.4Current 4.5.5Potential Difference 4.5.6IB Multiple Choice - Electric Charge

4.6

Magnetic Effect of Electric Currents

4.6.1Magnetism 4.6.2Magnetic Field 4.6.3Magnetic Force 4.6.4Moving Charges in a Magnetic Field 4.6.5IB Multiple Choice - Magnetism

4.7

Heating Effect of Currents

4.7.1Circuits 4.7.2Resistance 4.7.3Power and Conservation 4.7.4IB Multiple Choice - DC Circuits

4.8

Electromagnetic Induction

4.8.1Electromagnetic Induction 4.8.2Electromagnetic Induction 2 4.8.3Magnetic Flux & Flux Linkage 4.8.4End of Topic Test - Electromagnetic Induction

4.9

Power Generation & Transmission

4.9.1Alternating Currents 4.9.2Operation of a Transformer

4.10

Capacitance

4.10.1Capacitance 4.10.2Parallel Plate Capacitor 4.10.3Energy Stored by a Capacitor 4.10.4Capacitor Discharge 4.10.5Capacitor Charge 4.10.6Magnetic Flux Density 4.10.7End of Topic Test - Capacitance & Flux Density

5

Nuclear & Quantum Physics

5.1

Discrete Energy & Radioactivity

5.1.1Atomic Spectra 5.1.2Atomic Structure 5.1.3Photons 5.1.4Discrete Energy Levels 5.1.5Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation 5.1.6Scientific Practices - Unstable Nuclei 5.1.7Radioactive Decay 5.1.8IB Multiple Choice - Atomic Physics

5.2

Nuclear Reactions

5.2.1Mass & Energy 5.2.2Nuclear Fission

5.3

The Interaction of Matter with Radiation

5.3.1Particles, Antiparticles & Photons 5.3.2Particle Interactions 5.3.3Classification of Particles 5.3.4Wave-Particle Duality 5.3.5Wave Functions & Probability 5.3.6IB Multiple Choice - Quantum Physics

5.4

Nuclear Physics

5.4.1Nuclear Instability & Radioactive Decay 5.4.2Nuclear Radius 5.4.3IB Multiple Choice - Nuclear Physics

6

Measurements

6.1

Measurements & Errors

6.1.1Fundamental Units 6.1.2SI Prefixes, Standard Form & Converting Units 6.1.3End of Topic Test - Units & Prefixes

6.2

Uncertainties & Errors

6.2.1Limitation of Physical Measurements 6.2.2Uncertainty 6.2.3Estimation 6.2.4End of Topic Test - Measurements & Errors

6.3

Vectors & Scalars

6.3.1Scalars & Vectors 6.3.2Vector Problems

Practice questions on Scalars & Vectors

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1
What is a vector quantity?Multiple choice
2
Which of the following is NOT an example of a vector quantity?Multiple choice
3
Which of the following is a scalar quantity?True / false
4
Adding Vectors GraphicallyPut in order
5
How do we find the resultant vector?Multiple choice

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End of Topic Test - Measurements & Errors

Vector Problems