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A Level Maths CIE 

1. Mechanics Toolkit

CONTENTS
1.1 Quantities, Units & Modelling
1.1.1 Scalars & Vectors
1.1.2 Fundamental Units
1.1.3 Derived Units
1.1.4 Types of Force
1.1.5 Modelling Assumptions

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1.1 Quantities, Units & Modelling YOUR NOTES


1.1.1 Scalars & Vectors
Scalars & Vectors
Mechanics uses a variety of different scalar and vector quantities.
What are scalars?
Scalars are quantities without direction, they only have a size (magnitude)
e.g. a speed of 7 m/s, a distance of 5 m, a time of 15 s or a mass of 12 kg
Scalars can only be positive- you can’t have a negative distance or speed!
What are vectors?
Vectors are quantities which also have a direction, this is what makes them more
than just a scalar
e.g. two objects with velocities of 7 m/s and ‑7 m/s are travelling at the same
speed but in opposite directions

Vector quantities can have positive or negative components

Some examples of vector quantities you may come across are displacement,
velocity, acceleration, force/weight, momentum
Displacement is the distance moved in a given direction from a starting point
Velocity is a speed in a given direction (displacement over time)
Acceleration is the change in velocity over time

Vector quantities of displacement, velocity and acceleration

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Worked Example YOUR NOTES

 

 Exam Tip
Make sure you fully understand the definitions of all the words in this
section so that you can be clear about what your exam question is
asking of you
Vectors appear in bold (non-italic) font in textbooks, on exam papers,
etc (i.e. F, α ) but in handwriting should be underlined (i.e. F , α )

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1.1.2 Fundamental Units YOUR NOTES


Fundamental Units
What are fundamental units?

Fundamental units or S.I. units are the international standardised units used
around the world
The three main units you will be using are:
Length measured in metres (m) (also called displacement)
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm, 1 cm = 10 mm
Time measured in seconds (s)
1 hour = 60 minutes, 1 minute = 60 seconds
Mass measured in kilograms (kg)
1 kg = 1000 g, 1 g = 1000 mg
All other quantities can be measured in units derived from S.I. units

 Worked Example

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YOUR NOTES
 Exam Tip 
Make sure you fully understand the definitions of all the words in this
section so that you can be clear about what your exam question is
asking of you.
Make sure you are confident converting between fundamental S.I Units
e.g. 17 minutes and 42 seconds = 1062 seconds
2.4 km = 2400 m
86000 mg = 0.086 kg.
Watch out for exam questions using non S.I. units such as feet and
inches or miles per hour.
Remember mass (measured in kg) is not a weight (a force measured in
Newtons).

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1.1.3 Derived Units YOUR NOTES


Derived Units
What are derived units?
Derived units for quantities such as velocity, acceleration and force etc. are
combinations of S.I. units
Speed or Velocity = distance ÷ time = m/s or m s-1 (Velocity is just speed
with direction)
Acceleration = velocity ÷ time = ms-1 /s = m/s2 or m s-2
Weight or Force = mass x acceleration = kg m s-2 or N (N = Newtons)

 Worked Example

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a) Convert the following into S.I. units YOUR NOTES

i) 72 km h-2 ii) 50 cm per minute iii) 14 g cm-3 

b) A cyclist takes 15 minutes to travel 2.54 km. Calculate the average speed in m s-
1?

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YOUR NOTES
 ExamWatch
Tip
out for exam questions using non S.I. units such as feet and 
inches or miles per hour.
Make sure you are confident converting between these derived units,
Remember speed is velocity without direction and weight is a force
measured in Newtons, not a mass measured in kg.
If you ever forget a formula, use the units it is measured in to figure it
out,
e.g. m/s = metres ÷ seconds = distance ÷ time = velocity.

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1.1.4 Types of Force YOUR NOTES


Types of Force
What is a force?
A force is a vector quantity, it has both magnitude and direction
A force is a push or a pull on an object
A force is measured in Newtons
In A level mathematical models, forces act at a single point called a particle which
occupies a single point in space
What types of force are used in mechanics?
Weight is the effect of mass and gravity, it always acts downwards
Tension is a pulling force, it always acts away from an object
Thrust is a pushing force, it always acts towards an object
Friction is a resistive force, it acts to oppose the motion of an object
Every surface will produce a reaction force, it will always act perpendicular to the
surface
Mass, Gravity and Weight
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object
Mass is a scalar quantity, measured in kilograms, kg
Mass is universal, it does not change based on location

Gravity is the force by which a body (usually a planet or a star) pulls objects
towards its centre
g is the acceleration due to gravity, measured in m s-2
On Earth, g is approximately 10 m s-2 , although its exact value varies with
location
g is different elsewhere in the universe

Weight is the product of mass and gravity, it is a force measured in Newtons

Weight is a vector quantity
Weight varies with location
Weight always acts vertically downwards towards the ground

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YOUR NOTES


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YOUR NOTES


 Worked Example

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YOUR NOTES


 ExamAlways
Tip
sketch a diagram and mark the forces on the diagram clearly, it
will help you to understand the problem. Add more things to the
diagram as you progress through the question. You may not even need
all the forces from your diagram but it is useful to have them there.
You should always round your answers to three significant figures.

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1.1.5 Modelling Assumptions YOUR NOTES


Modelling Assumptions
What is modelling in Mechanics?
Mechanics uses modelling to solve problems in real life situations
We use assumptions to simplify real life problems in order to turn them into
equations or graphs that can be solved
We will sometimes need to criticise or refine our assumptions to improve the
model

Modelling Assumptions in Mechanics:

There are many different modelling assumptions that can be made when dealing
with real life situations
Different assumptions will be needed for different models
The assumptions you make will affect the calculations in each problem differently
What types of modelling assumptions are there?
Gravity is constant and vertical

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Air resistance is usually modelled as negligible and can be ignored YOUR NOTES
A smooth surface has no friction 
A rough surface has a frictional force between the surface and any object that
makes contact with it
A particle has negligible dimensions, therefore forces will all act on a particle at
the same point
A rod or a beam should be treated as a long, rigid particle
A uniform object’s mass is distributed evenly
A light object has zero mass
An inextensible object cannot be stretched

 Worked Example

a) A and B are both particles.

b) The string is light.
c) The string is inextensible.
d) The pulley is smooth.
e) The surface A is moving along is smooth.

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YOUR NOTES


 ExamMakeTipsure you fully understand the definitions of all the words in this
section so that you can be clear about what your exam question is
asking of you.

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