Physics Unit 4 Summary

Unit 4 is named Fields and Further Mechanics is loosely divided into six topics: Momentum,
Circular Motion, Harmonic Motion, Gravitation, Electromagnetism & Electronics. The Mechanics
topics advances momentum & forces, introduces circular and oscillatory motion and covers
gravitation. Electric fields and capacitors are covered with magnetic fields, EM induction and the
transmission of alternating current in the Fields topics.
The paper is 1 hr 45 min, with 100 marks. Practical topics for EMPAs and/or 6 markers are usually
about Harmonic Motion (with Hookes Law from AS), Electromagnetism or Electronics (involving
capacitators with AS Electricity).
Sources of accessible physics questions include the textbook Summary questions for individual
topics (best for weaker topics and an introduction), Examination-style questions for chapters
(*which work as a bridge between notes and papers*) & online questions from AQA Sets & Moodle.

FURTHER MECHANICS
FORCES & MOMENTUM
A quick reminder from AS:
FORCES are mechanical interactions that induce changes in an objects momentum
NEWTONs SECOND LAW: The net (resultant) force on an object is equal to the rate of

change of its momentum

The LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM states that:

In a CLOSED SYSTEM, total momentum before event is equal to total momentum after.
During a mechanical event, forces are exerted to produce accelerations in objects and
transfer energy, calculated by the following formulas:
[AS]

&

A2 takes momentum to a higher level by focusing on momentum transfers & advanced problems
MOMENTUM is a vector quantity in classical mechanics that defines the mechanical input
required to remove the motion of an object of mass
and
FORMULA:
where UNITS are
&
Powered vehicles produce an engine output of
where velocity [
]&
massflow per second [
(a more realistic mechanical model for vehicles where
engine power
and velocity is constant due to zero acceleration)
Momentum is always a vector, and this comes in useful in mechanical models
e.g:

As the gas rebounds in a container, there is a change in momentum of -2mv in the system
In an OPEN SYSTEM, kinetic energy is not conserved and is lost as resistive and frictional
forces

Momentum is always conserved in these situations (e.g: explosions, crashes)

These mechanical events are called inelastic collisions
COLLISION TYPE

mass

momentum

kinetic energy

total energy

elastic

conserved

conserved

conserved

conserved

inelastic

conserved

conserved

NOT conserved

conserved

IMPULSE is the total change of momentum during a

mechanical event
where
It is the area underneath a force-time graph [
]
It is a vector quantity like momentum and has the same
units: [
] OR [
]
To calculate the acceleration on any force-time graph, the
average force is divided by the mass of the object to get the
acceleration
Using SUVATs the velocity and distance can be calculated:
A ball of mass 2.0kg is acted upon by a force F/N across the time t/s as shown in the graph.
Calculate the velocity and distance of the ball after 8s.

Average force is 5N so that is the force over 8s.

,

so
where

so

so

These notes are missing areas from AS Mechanics that require reviewing as A2 is synoptic
you will be examined on AS topics indirectly so it is detrimental to be weak in these areas
Some questions on this topic can be found in AQA Sets A & B for 4.1.1 Momentum.
These can be downloaded from the following link at Physics&MathsTutor.com [link]
CIRCULAR MOTION
A quick reminder from AS, not really mentioned in the specification: The velocity of an object that
has circular/radial motion has a linear velocity of

equal to its displacement in one

full turn over the time period of that motion.

At A2, this topic is given ground & developed to involve angular velocities and acceleration
The linear velocity is in contrast to the angular velocity of the object
angle displacement in the circle in radians

, the rate of

When is divided by , the

cancels producing

, so

&

As there is a change in direction of the velocity as the circle travels (even

though the linear velocity is the same), there is a centripetal acceleration
OFFSPEC ALERT: The derivation of the formula is not required. Just practice it.
The centripetal acceleration of circular motion is
Using

(Newtons 2nd Law - constant mass) the centripetal force is

Centripetal acceleration in mechanical systems keeps cars & roundabouts on tracks

so objects can gain liftoff with a high enough velocity [
]
This occurs when when [

] :-

(as mass cancels)

Remember that objects undergo weight forces and support/reaction forces

This is a new topic unrelated to AS so practice it and revise addition of coplanar vectors.
Some questions on this topic can be found in AQA Sets A & B for 4.1.2 Circular Motion.
These can be downloaded from the following link at Physics&MathsTutor.com [link]
SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
A quick reminder from AS: revise Hookes Law apparatus as they are used to demonstrate SHM.
Understanding of time period, amplitude, /Hz and phase differences from optics are also needed.
Energy conversions between GPE and KE occur as well, with vectors & stability (mechanics). Units
met at AS do not change and all units are SI (
,
,
) etc.
An oscillating system is a mechanical system in which an object vibrates
There is a rotational force (= horizontal component) equal to
that
functions as a restoring force and exerts a force on the system to return it
to equilibrium
This rotational force is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium in the
opposite direction
so acceleration is proportional to displacement in the opposite direction
DISPLACEMENT: maximum displacement is A (amplitude) across time
As displacement starts at the positive maximum,
VELOCITY: gradient of displacement graph across time
As velocity starts at zero, both
Maximum velocity

apply
at the centre

ACCELERATION: gradient of velocity graph across time

As acceleration starts at negative maximum,
applies
Maximum acceleration
at the max point

SHM Displacement vs. Time

SHM Velocity vs. Time

SHM Acceleration vs. Time

An oscillator only has SHM behaviour when the restoring force is proportional to the
acceleration of the system [
where
]
Derivations of all the formulas are not required at all; each graph is just

or

to the left

from the one before (this is what differentiation of the trig. function does)
Energy is converted from kinetic energy to GPE in the pendulum through the conservation
of energy principle as shown, so
Total energy is theoretically constant but decreases in a real life
mechanical situation because of frictional forces and drag
On a energy displacement graph
is a positive parabola
is a negative parabola on the same graph (
is at centre)
The lines add to give a flat line for total energy

Pendulum In Motion

The time-period of a mass-spring system is

where m is mass, k is spring constant

and
are also used to determine the time period and freq. of oscillation
Time period increases with a weaker spring or a larger mass
The time-period of a suspended pendulum is
This only works when

and thus

where l is length and g = 9.81 ms

, so the pendulum has SHM

This is a new topic unrelated to AS so practice it well, and revise Hookes Law.
Some questions on this topic can be found in AQA Sets A & B for 4.1.3 SHM.
These can be downloaded from the following link at Physics&MathsTutor.com [link]
GRAVITATION
A quick reminder from AS: gravitational acceleration

(little g) & there is no

work done on an object in motion if the exerted force is acting perpendicular to the motive force.

In a gravitational force field, the field strength is equal to the acceleration

of

and is defined by

in terms of gravitational potential

In a radial gravitational field around mass

There is a universal gravitational force of

where big

is the

universal constant of gravitation [

] and is the distance of two
point masses /kg and
/kg; this force is always attractive and is a relatively weak force
OFF-SPEC: This force is an interaction and the exchange particle is the graviton
The supertankers TI Europe and TI Oceania are two of the largest free-moving objects made
by man, how does gravitation affect them if each ship has a total mass of
and they could float alongside each other with their centres separated by 100 metres.

Gravitational potential [

] is the work done to move the object from infinity to that

point as defined by
The work done to change from
Gravitational field strength obeys

to

is

always &
where

for

occurs at the surface where

An orbiting object (satellite) exhibits circular motion and obeys gravitational

forces (so they have centripetal acceleration

For this reason, a lower orbit (smaller ) has less GPE and more KE than
a higher one
Through rearrangement of

(by derivation) and

(the inverse-square law of gravitation between two large masses)

Geostationary satellites:
They have a time period of 24hrs

,
&

Hz

Some questions on this topic can be found in AQA Sets A & B for 4.2 Gravitation.
These can be downloaded from the following link at Physics&MathsTutor.com [link]