Edexcel Mechanics A-Level

Outlined below are topics covered for Edexcel Mechanics A-Level

Edexcel Mechanics A-Level consists of section B of paper 3, (section A is statistics). It is a 2 hour written exam paper which is weighted at 33.33% with a total of 100 marks. Calculators can be used.

It is advisable to check the official Edexcel Mechanics A-Level specification for any changes.

Contents for Mechanics Edexcel

Vectors
Vector Basics
Kinematics
Displacement and Displacement Time Graphs
Motion in a Straight Line
Velocity Time Graphs

Statics of a Particle
Mass and Weight
Force Diagrams
Resolving Forces
Equilibrium
Friction
Equilibrium of a rigid body
Moments

Dynamics
Newton’s Laws of Motion F=ma
Lift Problems
Connected Particles
Projectiles
Projectiles
Further Kinematics
Velocity Vectors
Motion with Variable Acceleration

Past Papers

Vectors

Vector Basics

  1. What is a vector and a scalar quantity?
  2. Vector notation
  3. Position vectors 2d
  4. Equal and negative vectors
  5. Multiplying a vector by a scalar 2d
  6. Addition and subtraction of vectors 2d
  7. Magnitude of a 2 dimensional vector
  8. Unit vectors

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Kinematics – Constant Acceleration

Displacement and Displacement Time Graphs

  1. Displacement
  2. Displacement time graphs

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Motion in a Straight Line

  1. Motion in a straight line with constant acceleration (suvat)
  2. Horizontal motion with constant acceleration
  3. Exam Questions - Horizontal motion
  4. Vertical motion under gravity
  5. Exam Questions - Vertical motion under gravity

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Velocity Time Graphs

  1. Velocity time graphs
  2. Exam Questions - Velocity time graphs

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Statics of a Particle

Mass & weight

  1. Difference between mass and weight

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Force diagrams

  1. Force diagrams - Newton's 3rd law

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Resolving Forces

  1. Resolving forces
  2. Resultant forces - two forces at an angle
  3. Exam Questions - Resultant forces: two forces at an angle
  4. Resultant forces - three or more forces at an angle

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Equilibrium

  1. Equilibrium of a particle
  2. Exam Questions - Equilibrium
  3. Static Forces (3 examples)

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Friction

  1. What is friction, limiting equilibrium and the coefficient of friction?
  2. Exam Questions - Friction

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Equlibrium of a rigid body

Moments

  1. What is the moment of a force?
  2. Horizontal beams in equilibrium resting on supports
  3. Exam Questions - Moments horizontal beams
  4. Tilting beam
  5. Exam Questions - Moments tilting beam
  6. Moment of a non-perpendicular force
  7. Exam Questions - Moment of a non-perpendicular force
  8. Moments - Ladder problems
  9. Exam Questions - Moments ladder problems

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Dynamics

Newton’s Law of Motion : F=ma

  1. Newton's law of motion: F=ma
  2. Motion on a horizontal rough plane
  3. Exam Questions - Horizontal rough plane
  4. Motion on a smooth inclined plane
  5. Motion on a rough inclined plane
  6. Exam Questions - Rough inclined plane

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Lift Problems

  1. Newtons 3rd Law
  2. Forces on a lift and a particle inside
  3. Exam Questions - Lift problems

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Connected Particles

  1. Vertical strings over a smooth pulley
  2. Exam Questions - Vertical strings over a smooth pulley
  3. Horizontal planes
  4. Exam Questions - Horizontal planes
  5. Inclined planes
  6. Exam Questions - Inclined planes
  7. Force on a pulley
  8. Exam Questions - Force on a pulley

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Projectiles

Projectiles

  1. Projectiles
  2. Particle projected at an upward angle from a height above ground
  3. Particle projected at a downward angle from a height above ground
  4. Particle projected horizontally from a height
  5. Finding the speed and direction at a given time
  6. Equation of the trajectory of a projectile
  7. Exam Questions - Projectiles
  8. Projectile Motion (hitting targets)
  9. Projectile motion 'Show that' questions (part 1)
  10. Projectile motion 'Show that' questions (part 2)
  11. Projectiles - "Show that" questions (part 3) - Particles colliding

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Further Kinematics

Velocity Vectors

  1. Calculating a speed and bearing
  2. Calculating a velocity given speed and direction
  3. Calculating the position vector after time t
  4. Constant velocity as the rate of change of position vectors
  5. Exam Questions - Velocity vectors

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Motion with variable acceleration

  1. Linear motion with variable acceleration
  2. Exam Questions - Linear motion with variable acceleration
  3. Position, velocity and variable acceleration vectors
  4. Working backwards using integration methods
  5. Exam Questions - Variable acceleration using vectors

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Past Papers

For further revision and practice I have past papers, some with worked solutions – Check them out.

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Mechanics Index

acceleration:
variable
bearing – see under velocity vectors
coefficient of friction
connected particles
equilibrium:
limiting
particle
force:
resolving
friction
coefficient of
kinematics
ladders – see under moments
limiting equilibrium
moments
projectiles
pulleys – see under connected particles
resolving forces
speed – see under vectors
statics of a particle
tilting beams – see under moments
trajectory – see under projectiles
variable acceleration
vectors:
velocity
velocity:
vectors