Pendulum Investigation

Syllabus Content

Here the relevant content from a typical Double Award science syllabus is picked out. The main things we are looking for are as follows;

• forces: gravity
• energy: kinetic, gravitational potential
• motion: speed, velocity, acceleration

1. Use the formula speed=distance/time. v=s/t
2. Know the difference between speed and velocity.
3. Understand distance/time and speed/time graphs for constant acceleration.
4. Calculate speed from the gradient of a distance/time graph.
5. Calculate distance travelled and acceleration from a speed/time graph.
6. acceleration=change in speed/time. a=(v-u)/t
7. Understand the relationship between force, mass and acceleration. F=ma
8. Understand kinetic and gravitational potential energy transfers.
9. kinetic energy: KE=½mv²
10. gravitational potential energy: GPE=mgh
11. An object is stationary or moves with constant velocity unless an unbalanced force acts on it.
12. Forces are balanced if they are equal in size and opposite in direction and act through the same point.
13. When two bodies interact the forces they exert on each other are equal and opposite.
14. Understand in terms of balance of forces why falling objects accelerate.
15. Objects are pulled towards the centre of the Earth by the force of gravity.
16. The size of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the planet.
17. gravitational force, weight=mg
18. "g" is the acceleration of free fall.
19. g = 10m/s² or 10N/kg (approx.) on the Earth.

There are also some things you should have remembered(!) from Key Stage 3 that may not be repeated at GCSE.

20. Forces can cause objects to turn about a pivot.
21. The principle of moments involving one pivot. moment=force×distance
22. "centre of gravity" as the single point through which gravity acts.