Physics SPM Form 4 Notes

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Physical quantity
Scalar quantity
Quantity that has
magnitude only
Vector quantity
Base quantity
Quantity that has

magnitude and direction
-cannot be defined in
terms of other physical
quantities.
Length (m)
Mass (kg)
Time (s)
Electric current
(ampere, A)
Temperature
(Kelvin, K)
Force (N)
Momentum
(kg ms-2)
Acceleration (ms-2)
Displacement (m)
Velocity (ms-1)
Weight (kg)
Derived quantity
-physical quantities derived
by combining base
quantities
Psst..
base quantities
together with their
units are popular in
questions.
1
Prefixes
Prefix
teragigamegakilohectodekadecicentimillimicronanopico-
Power
1012
109
106
103
102
10
10-1
10-2
10-3
10-6
10-9
10-12
2
Parallax error
Error in reading a measurement due to wrong positioning of eye with
respect to the scale of the measuring instrument (not perpendicular).
Zero error
Error when measurements do not start exactly from zero.
Accuracy
Degree of how close a value is to the actual value.
Consistency
Ability of a measuring instrument to register the same reading when a
measurement is made repeatedly.
Sensitivity
Ability of a measuring instrument to detect small changes within a short time.
3
Distance
Displacement
Speed
Velocity
Total length of the path travelled by an object

from one point to another. Unit: metre (m)
The distance an object travels in a specific

direction. Unit: metre (m)
Rate of change of distance.
[distance(m)/time(s)] Unit: ms-1
Rate of change of displacement.
[displacement(m)/time(s)] Unit: ms-1
Rate of change of velocity.
Acceleration
[velocity(ms-1)/time(s)] Unit: ms-2
The equations of linear

motion
v = u + at
s = (ut+v) t
s = ut +
at2
v2 = u2 + 2as
Inertia
Tendency of an object to maintain its state of rest or uniform motion in a
straight line.
Momentum
Product of mass and velocity. Unit: kg ms-1 [ p=mv ]
Principle of conservation of momentum
The total momentum is constant if no force acts on the system.
Elastic collision
Two objects collide and move apart after a collision.
[ m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 ]
Inelastic collision
Two objects collide and move together with a constant velocity.
[m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1 + m2)v ]
Explosion
[ m1v1 = m2v2 ]
Force
Is a push or a pull.
Unit = N [ F = ma ]
Impulse
Product of a force and the time interval during which the force acts.
Impulse = force x time [ Ft = mv mu ] Unit = Ns or kg ms-1
Impulsive Force
Rate of change of momentum during a collision or an explosion.
[F=
( )
Gravitational Acceleration
Acceleration due to force of gravity. Unit: N kg-1
Weight
Force of gravity exerted on an object by Earth. Unit: N [ w = mg ]
Mass
Amount of matter contained in an object. Unit: kg
Work
Product of force and displacement in the direction of the force.
Unit: Joule, J
Friction
Normal reaction
[ w = f x s / w = fs cos / w = mgh ]
Energy
Capacity to do work. Unit: Joule, J
mg sin
mg cos
Potential Energy
Energy stored in an object due to its position or state. [ Ep = mgh ]
Kinetic Energy
Energy possessed by an object due to its motion. [ Ek = mv2 ]
Principle of conservation of energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can be transformed from one
form to another, but the total energy in a system is constant.
e.g: Kinetic energy gained = Potential energy lost
Power
Rate at which work is done / rate at which energy is transformed.
Unit: Watt, W or J s-1
work done, w
, =
time taken, t
Elasticity
The ability of an object to return to its original shape and dimension when
an applied external force is removed.
10
Hookes Law
The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the stretching force
acting on it provided the elastic limit is not exceeded. F
[ F = Kx ] [ =
()
()
] unit for k : N m-1
Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in a spring when it is extended or compressed.
[ Ep = kx2 ]
11
Pressure
Perpendicular force acting on one unit are of a surface.
[P=
F
A
] Unit: Nm-2
Pressure in liquids
[ p = ]
atmospheric pressure : 1 Patm = 108 Pa = 105 Nm
12
Pascals Principle
Pressure exerted on an enclosed liquid is transmitted throughout the
liquid.
o Pressure in hydraulic system that is not in equilibrium ;
[
F2
F1
A2
A1
] where
o Pressure in hydraulic system that is in equilibrium ;

1 2
[
=
]
1 2
Archimedes Principle
An object when immersed in a fluid is acted on by buoyant force which is
equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.
Buoyant force = Actual weight apparent weight
=
13
Bernoullis Principle
Pressure of a fluid decreases when the velocity of the fluid increases [and
vice versa].
Applications of ;
o Pascals Principle
Jacks, vehicle brake system, hydraulic presses.
o Archimedes Principle
Submarine, hot air balloon, ship, hydrometer.
o Bernoullis Principle
Bunsen burner, aerofoil, insecticide sprayer, carburetor, hydrofoil.
14
Thermal Equilibrium
State in which there is no net flow of heat between the two objects in
thermal contact.
Specific Heat Capacity
Amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of
substance by 1C or 1K.
[ Q = mc ] Unit: J kg-1 C
Applications of specific heat capacity;
- Water in car engine (high specific heat capacity)
- Radiator (high specific heat capacity)
- Household utensils, i.e. cooking utensils
15
- Sea breeze and land breeze

Latent Heat
Total energy absorbed or released when a substance completely changes
its physical state at a constant temperature.
Latent heat of fusion :
Heat absorbed when a solid melts

at a constant temp.
Latent heat of vaporisation :
Heat absorbed when a liquid changes

into vapour at constant temp.
Specific Latent Heat,

Amount of heat required to change the phase of 1kg of a substance at a
constant temperature.
[ Q/ Pt = m ]
Boyles Law
Pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume
provided the temperature of the gas is kept constant.
P
1
V
, [ P1V1 = P2V2 ]
16
Charles Law
Volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute
temperature (Kelvin), provided the pressure of the gas is kept constant.
, [
1
1
2
2
Pressure Law
Pressure of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute
temperature (Kelvin) provided the volume of the gas is kept constant.
P (Pa)
, [
1
1
2
2
P (Pa)
-273
()
0
100
17
Applications of gas laws;

o Boyles Law Bicycle pump
o Pressure Law Tyre
o Charles Law Hot air balloon
18
Laws of reflection
-The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal all lie in the same
plane.
- The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. ( i = r )
Virtual Image
An image which cannot be formed on a screen.
Mirrors
Convex mirror
Concave mirror
19
Refraction of light
Change in direction and speed of light as it enters from one medium to
another medium of different optical densities.
Refractive Index
Ratio of the speed of light in vacuum/ air to speed of light in the medium.
Equations of refractive index, n ;

=
=
=
=
sin

1
sin

20
Total Internal Reflection

Total reflection of a beam of light at the boundary of two mediums when
the angle of incidence in the optically denser medium exceeds a specific
critical angle, c.
Lenses
Convex lens
Concave lens
21
Power of Lenses
=
()
where f is focal length. Unit: m-1 / Dioptre, D
Linear Magnification
[=
/
/
Lens Equation

[ + = ]

f: convex Positive
f: concave Negative
Image: real r is positive
Image: virtual v is negative
Object distance, u always positive
Image distance, v for concave lens is always negative.
22
When is it real and when is it virtual?

- For mirrors
o Images formed on the same side(left) is real.
o Images formed on the opposite side(right) is virtual.
- For lens
oImages formed on the same side(left) is virtual.
oImages formed on the opposite side(right) is real.
Extra[& incredibly useful] info;
- Images formed by convex mirror and concave lens are always;
oVirtual
Psst..
oUpright
Use this guide to help you in
oSmaller/diminished
answering lens questions!
23
- Images formed by concave mirror and convex lens;

o > : real & inverted
o : virtual & upright
24

Physics SPM Form 4 Notes

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0

Quantity that has

Total length of the path travelled by an object

The distance an object travels in a specific

Rate of change of velocity.

[velocity(ms-1)/time(s)] Unit: ms-2

The equations of linear

Principle of conservation of energy

] unit for k : N m-1

Elastic Potential Energy

o Pressure in hydraulic system that is in equilibrium ;

- Sea breeze and land breeze

Heat absorbed when a solid melts

Latent heat of vaporisation :

Heat absorbed when a liquid changes

Specific Latent Heat,

Applications of gas laws;

Equations of refractive index, n ;

Total Internal Reflection

where f is focal length. Unit: m-1 / Dioptre, D

When is it real and when is it virtual?

- Images formed by concave mirror and convex lens;

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