PH01-05 Physics Coming soon
Velocity
PH01-05
This lesson is coming soon.
In this lesson
State a velocity as a speed together with a direction, and say what a negative velocity tells you that a speed cannot.
What it covers
- Velocity as the speed of an object in a stated direction, introduced as QUANTITY, SYMBOL, UNIT plus the direction - velocity, v, metres per second, north
- The pairing that makes the whole chapter cohere: speed is to velocity as distance is to displacement, scalar to vector
- Stating a velocity three legitimate ways: with a compass direction, with a bearing, or with a sign against a stated convention
- What a negative velocity means - the same speed, the opposite way. The minus sign IS the direction and does not make the velocity smaller
- A there-and-back journey at one constant speed, where the velocity changes sign halfway and the speed does not change at all
- Average velocity uses the DISPLACEMENT while average speed uses the DISTANCE, so a journey that returns to its start has an average velocity of zero
Key words
For: AQA GCSE 8463, Edexcel GCSE 1PH0, OCR GCSE J249
On the specification
| Board | Spec | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| AQA GCSE 8463 | 4.5.6.1.3a | Velocity |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.1 | Explain that a scalar quantity has magnitude (size) but no specific direction |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.2 | Explain that a vector quantity has both magnitude (size) and a specific direction |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.3 | Explain the difference between vector and scalar quantities |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.4 | Recall vector and scalar quantities, including: a displacement/distance b velocity/speed c acceleration d force e weight/mass f momentum g energy |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.5 | Recall that velocity is speed in a stated direction |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 9.2 | Explain the difference between vector and scalar quantities using examples |
| OCR GCSE J249 | P2.1d | Explain the vector–scalar distinction as it applies to displacement and distance, velocity and speed |
For teachers
This GCSE Physics lesson teaches velocity. By the end, students should be able to state a velocity as a speed together with a direction, and say what a negative velocity tells you that a speed cannot. It works through four worked examples and the mistakes examiners report, and suits Foundation and Higher tier students.