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LEARNING MATERIALS
Subject: Physics
Unit: Principles of Physics
Topic 1: Principles of Physics
Level: 3
Essential reading
Any A-Level physics Text Book
Essential Maths Skills for AS/A Level Physics Paperback – 27 May
2016 by Ian Lovat (Author)
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
If you see this icon you will be able to listen to how the word is
pronounced
Read and make notes:
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helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
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• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
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• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
• record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, • keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please read
the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Principles of Physics
Topic 1: Principles of Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL/⌘ + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
1. Work, energy and power ....................................................................... 2
1.1 Work ........................................................................................................ 2
1.2 Energy ..................................................................................................... 6
1.2.1 Potential Energy ......................................................................... 6
1.2.2 Kinetic Energy ............................................................................ 7
1.3 Power ...................................................................................................... 8
1.3.1 Power in practice........................................................................ 8
1.4 Conservation of energy ............................................................................ 9
2. Application of mechanics ................................................................... 13
2.1 Forces ................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Mass ...................................................................................................... 14
2.3 Velocity .................................................................................................. 16
2.4 Acceleration ........................................................................................... 16
2.5 Momentum............................................................................................. 17
2.6 Impulse .................................................................................................. 18
2.7 Newton’s Laws ...................................................................................... 18
2.7.1 Newton’s First Law ................................................................... 19
2.7.2 Newton’s Second Law .............................................................. 19
2.7.3 Newton’s Third Law.................................................................. 20
2.7.4 Newton’s laws in 2D ................................................................. 21
2.7.5 Choosing a sensible axis for resolving ..................................... 23
2.7.6 SUVAT Equations .................................................................... 26
2.8 Levers.................................................................................................... 30
2.9 Centre of Mass ...................................................................................... 32
2.10 Moments ................................................................................................ 32
2.10.1 Net Moments............................................................................ 35
3. Properties of Materials ........................................................................ 36
3.1.1 Properties ................................................................................ 36
3.2 Structures .............................................................................................. 37
3.2.1 Crystalline Structures ............................................................... 37
3.2.2 Metal ........................................................................................ 37
3.2.3 Ceramics .................................................................................. 38
3.2.4 Glass........................................................................................ 38
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Principles of Physics
Topic 1: Principles of Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
3.2.5 Polymers/ Plastics .................................................................... 39
3.2.6 Bone ........................................................................................ 39
3.3 How do materials behave ...................................................................... 40
3.3.1 Dislocations.............................................................................. 40
3.3.2 Crystal Lattice with dislocation ................................................. 41
3.3.3 Changing the ductility of metals- Stopping dislocations ............ 41
3.3.4 Amorphous and crystalline materials ceramics ......................... 42
3.3.5 Stress propagation and cracks ................................................. 42
3.4 Density .................................................................................................. 44
3.5 Plastic and elastic materials ................................................................... 45
3.6 Hooke’s law ........................................................................................... 45
3.7 Tensile stress and strain ........................................................................ 47
3.7.1 Stress vs Strain Graphs ........................................................... 51
References ................................................................................................... 53
Recommended reading ............................................................................... 53
Resources .................................................................................................... 53
Books, journals and CDs ................................................................................ 54
Websites ......................................................................................................... 54
Image credits .................................................................................................. 55
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
LEARNING MATERIALS
Subject: Physics
Unit: Principles of Physics
Topic 1: Principles of Physics
Level: 3
Essential reading
Any A-Level physics Text Book
Essential Maths Skills for AS/A Level Physics Paperback – 27 May
2016 by Ian Lovat (Author)
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
If you see this icon you will be able to listen to how the word is
pronounced
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
• record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, • keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please read
the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Principles of Physics
Topic 1: Principles of Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL/⌘ + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
1. Work, energy and power ....................................................................... 2
1.1 Work ........................................................................................................ 2
1.2 Energy ..................................................................................................... 6
1.2.1 Potential Energy ......................................................................... 6
1.2.2 Kinetic Energy ............................................................................ 7
1.3 Power ...................................................................................................... 8
1.3.1 Power in practice........................................................................ 8
1.4 Conservation of energy ............................................................................ 9
2. Application of mechanics ................................................................... 13
2.1 Forces ................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Mass ...................................................................................................... 14
2.3 Velocity .................................................................................................. 16
2.4 Acceleration ........................................................................................... 16
2.5 Momentum............................................................................................. 17
2.6 Impulse .................................................................................................. 18
2.7 Newton’s Laws ...................................................................................... 18
2.7.1 Newton’s First Law ................................................................... 19
2.7.2 Newton’s Second Law .............................................................. 19
2.7.3 Newton’s Third Law.................................................................. 20
2.7.4 Newton’s laws in 2D ................................................................. 21
2.7.5 Choosing a sensible axis for resolving ..................................... 23
2.7.6 SUVAT Equations .................................................................... 26
2.8 Levers.................................................................................................... 30
2.9 Centre of Mass ...................................................................................... 32
2.10 Moments ................................................................................................ 32
2.10.1 Net Moments............................................................................ 35
3. Properties of Materials ........................................................................ 36
3.1.1 Properties ................................................................................ 36
3.2 Structures .............................................................................................. 37
3.2.1 Crystalline Structures ............................................................... 37
3.2.2 Metal ........................................................................................ 37
3.2.3 Ceramics .................................................................................. 38
3.2.4 Glass........................................................................................ 38
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Principles of Physics
Topic 1: Principles of Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
3.2.5 Polymers/ Plastics .................................................................... 39
3.2.6 Bone ........................................................................................ 39
3.3 How do materials behave ...................................................................... 40
3.3.1 Dislocations.............................................................................. 40
3.3.2 Crystal Lattice with dislocation ................................................. 41
3.3.3 Changing the ductility of metals- Stopping dislocations ............ 41
3.3.4 Amorphous and crystalline materials ceramics ......................... 42
3.3.5 Stress propagation and cracks ................................................. 42
3.4 Density .................................................................................................. 44
3.5 Plastic and elastic materials ................................................................... 45
3.6 Hooke’s law ........................................................................................... 45
3.7 Tensile stress and strain ........................................................................ 47
3.7.1 Stress vs Strain Graphs ........................................................... 51
References ................................................................................................... 53
Recommended reading ............................................................................... 53
Resources .................................................................................................... 53
Books, journals and CDs ................................................................................ 54
Websites ......................................................................................................... 54
Image credits .................................................................................................. 55
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
