Forces, Motion & Newton's Laws
Key equations, graph rules, and Newton's laws for beginner physics exams.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
Speed equation (with symbols)
speed = distance / time, v = s/t; units m/s
Difference between speed and velocity
Speed is a scalar (how fast only); velocity is a vector (speed with direction). Constant speed round a roundabout = changing velocity.
Acceleration equation
a = (v − u)/t, where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity; units m/s². Negative answer = deceleration.
A car speeds up from 5 m/s to 25 m/s in 8 s. Acceleration?
a = (25 − 5)/8 = 2.5 m/s²
What does the gradient of a distance–time graph show?
Speed. Flat line = stationary, straight slope = constant speed, curve getting steeper = accelerating.
What do gradient and area mean on a velocity–time graph?
Gradient = acceleration; area under the graph = distance travelled (split into triangles and rectangles).
Newton's first law
An object stays at rest or moves at constant velocity unless a resultant force acts — steady speed means balanced forces.
Newton's second law
Resultant force = mass × acceleration, F = ma (N, kg, m/s²); rearranged a = F/m, m = F/a.
Newton's third law
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and the two forces act on different objects.
Weight equation and mass vs weight
W = mg with g ≈ 9.8 N/kg. Mass (kg) is amount of matter; weight (N) is the gravitational force on it.
