YEAR 12 – MECHANICS 6 Credits

AS91171 External

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand

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Have
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A student should:
1. Know that when an object is stationary or moving at a constant velocity, all the forces
on it add up to zero. (Newton’s First Law)  
2. Understand that an unbalanced force causes an object to accelerate and be able to use
F = ma to solve problems. (Newton’s Second Law)  
3. Be able to use v = d / t to calculate constant and average speeds  
4. Understand acceleration as a change in speed and use a = v/ t to calculate
acceleration.  
5. Be able to draw and interpret d vs t and v vs t graphs.  
6. Be able to use constant acceleration equations to solve problems including problems
involving gravity.  
7. Be able to draw vector diagrams to solve problems involving displacement, forces,
relative velocities and change in velocity.  
8. Be able to solve problems involving the components of a vector.  
9. Be able to solve projectile problems.  
10. Be able to solve circular motion problems using ac = v2/r and Fc = mv2/r.  
11. Understand torque as the “turning effect” of a force and that it is calculated using
 = Fd.  
12. Understand if an object is not turning (in equilibrium) then clockwise torques =
anti-clockwise torques and be able to use this idea to solve problems.  
13. Define work as force times the distance moved in the direction of the force and
calculate work using W = Fd.  
14. Know whenever work is done energy is transferred from one object to another
i.e. W = E(gained) and W = E(lost).  
15. Be able to apply “Hookes Law” i.e. F = kx to the stretching and compressing of springs.  
16. Be able to calculate the elastic potential energy stored in a spring using Ep = ½ kx2.  
17. Be able to calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object using Ep = mgh.  
18. Be able to calculate the kinetic energy of an object using Ek = ½ mv 2.  
19. Understand the “Principle of conservation of energy” and be able to apply it to
problems involving the change of energy from one type to another, e.g. Ep(lost) = Ek(gained).  
20. Be able to calculate power from P = W/t.  
21. Be able to calculate the momentum of an object using p = mv.  
22. Be able to solve problems involving the conservation of momentum (pi = pf) in 1
dimension (i.e. collisions in straight lines).  
23. Know the difference between an elastic and an inelastic collision.  
24. Be able to calculate the change in momentum of an object using p = pf –pi
(in 1 dimension only)  
25. Know that the impulse of a force is Ft and that when an impulse is applied to an
object, the object’s momentum changes as described by Ft = p (in 1 dimension only).  