A-Level Edexcel Mechanics Maths

Vector Basics (2D)

• What are vector and scalar quantities?
• Vector notation
• Position vectors
• Equal and negative vectors
• Multiplying a vector by a scalar
• Addition and subtraction
• Adding and subtracting with vectors
• Examples: 1 | 2
• Magnitude of a vector
• Distance between two points
• Unit vectors

Displacement and Displacement Time Graphs

• What is displacement?
• How to draw displacement time graphs

Motion in a Straight Line

• Motion in a straight line with constant acceleration (suvat)
• Horizontal motion with constant acceleration 1
• Horizontal motion with constant acceleration 2
• Vertical motion under gravity
• Book falling from a shelf
• Stone thrown upwards from the ground
• Ball thrown upwards from a balcony

Velocity Time Graphs

• Velocity time graphs
• Example 1
• Example 2

Velocity Vectors

• Calculating speed and bearing
• Speed and bearing worked example
• Calculating a velocity given speed and direction
• Velocity from speed and direction worked example
• Calculating the position vector after time t
• Velocity as the rate of change of position

Constant Acceleration Vectors

• Constant acceleration vectors

Mass & Weight

• What's the difference between mass and weight?

Force Diagrams

• Newton's 3rd law (N3L)

Resolving Forces

• Resolving forces
• Two forces at an angle
• Two forces at an angle - example
• Three forces at an angle
• Three forces at an angle - example 1
• Three forces at an angle - example 2

Equilibrium

• Equilibrium of a particle
• Example

Friction

• Friction
• Friction - example 1
• Friction - example 2

Moments

• Introduction
• Horizontal rod on one support
• Horizontal rod on two supports
• Tilting beams
• Moment of a non-perpendicular force
• Moment of a non-perpendicular force - example
• Ladder leaning against a smooth wall and floor
• Ladder leaning against a smooth wall and a rough floor

Newton's Law of Motion (F = ma)

• Introduction
• Motion on a rough horizontal plane
• Force applied to a particle on a rough horizontal plane
• Force at an angle requiring splitting a force into components
• Particle being projected along a horizontal plane
• Motion on a smooth inclined plane
• Particle sliding down a smooth plane
• Particle being pulled up a slope by a rope at an angle with constant speed
• Particle projected up a smooth inclined plane
• Motion on a rough inclined plane

Lift Problems

• Forces on a lift and particle
• Example

Connected Particles

• Vertical strings over a smooth pulley
• Smooth table with pulley

Projectiles

• Introduction
• Particles projected from above ground
• Particle projected at an upward angle
• Particle projected at a downward angle
• Particle projected horizontally
• Speed and direction at a given time
• Cartesian equation of trajectory

Motion with Variable Acceleration

• Linear motion
• Linear motion with variable acceleration
• Examples: 1 | 2 | 3
• Position, velocity and variable acceleration vectors
• Summary example: variable acceleration vectors
• Working backwards using integration methods