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AS level Physics complete detailed notes
these notes contain all the content one needs to know for the cie board exam and it is explained in very simple english
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PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS:In physics, a physical quantity is any property that can be measured or quantified. These can
include things like length, mass, time, temperature, and electric charge, among others. Each
physical quantity has a unit associated with it, which is a standardized way of measuring that
quantity. The International System of Units (SI) is the most widely used system of units in the
world, and it provides a standard set of units for all physical quantities.
In A level physics, it is important to have a clear understanding of the physical quantities and
units that are commonly used. Some of the most important physical quantities and their SI
units include:
Length: The SI unit of length is the meter (m). This is the standard unit of distance used
in most physics calculations.
Mass: The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg). This is the standard unit of measurement
for the amount of matter in an object.
Time: The SI unit of time is the second (s). This is the standard unit of measurement for
time intervals.
Electric charge: The SI unit of electric charge is the coulomb (C). This is the standard unit
of measurement for the amount of electric charge in an object.
Temperature: The SI unit of temperature is the Kelvin (K). This is the standard unit of
measurement for temperature, and it is based on the absolute zero point, which is the
point at which all molecular motion stops.
Other important physical quantities and their SI units include:
Force: The SI unit of force is the Newton (N). This is the standard unit of measurement
for the amount of force required to accelerate an object of a certain mass.
Energy: The SI unit of energy is the Joule (J). This is the standard unit of measurement
for the amount of work done or energy expended by a force acting on an object.
Power: The SI unit of power is the Watt (W). This is the standard unit of measurement
for the rate at which work is done or energy is expended.
Pressure: The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal (Pa). This is the standard unit of
measurement for the amount of force applied per unit area.
, KINEMATICS:
Kinematics is a branch of mechanics that deals with the motion of objects without considering
the forces that cause the motion. In A-level physics, kinematics is studied in detail, and it
involves the study of motion, position, velocity, acceleration, and time.
Position: Position refers to the location of an object in space at a particular instant in time. It is
usually measured with respect to a reference point or origin. The position of an object can be
described using a coordinate system, such as the Cartesian coordinate system, which uses x, y,
and z coordinates to describe the position of an object in three-dimensional space.
Displacement: Displacement refers to the change in position of an object over a certain period.
It is a vector quantity and is measured in meters (m). Displacement is calculated by subtracting
the initial position from the final position of an object.
Velocity: Velocity is the rate of change of displacement of an object with respect to time. It is a
vector quantity and is measured in meters per second (m/s). Velocity is calculated by dividing
displacement by time taken. If the velocity is constant, it is known as uniform velocity, and the
object is said to be moving with a constant speed.
Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It is a vector
quantity and is measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2). Acceleration can be calculated
by dividing the change in velocity by the time taken. If the acceleration is constant, it is known
as uniform acceleration, and the object is said to be moving with a constant acceleration.
Kinematic Equations: There are four kinematic equations that are used to solve problems
involving motion. These equations are derived from the definitions of velocity and acceleration
and assume uniform acceleration.
The equations are:
v = u + at, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t
is the time taken.
s = ut + 0.5at^2, where s is the displacement, u is the initial velocity, a is the
acceleration, and t is the time taken.
v^2 = u^2 + 2as, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration,
and s is the displacement.
s = ((u + v)/2)t, where s is the displacement, u is the initial velocity, v is the final velocity,
and t is the time taken.
In summary, kinematics is the study of motion without considering the forces that cause it. It
involves the study of position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time. Kinematics
equations can be used to solve problems involving motion with constant acceleration.
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