Mass, Momentum and Energy
Connect mass and weight, terminal motion, momentum change, work, energy, power and efficiency.
How to prepare for the current ESAT
Confirm your course combination, build no-calculator fluency from Mathematics 1 upward, and use official Pearson materials for authentic timing and interface rehearsal.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Distinguish mass from weight and explain free fall, drag and terminal velocity.
Exam cue: Define the system and direction before using momentum conservation.
Concept 2
Apply momentum conservation and force as rate of change of momentum in one dimension.
Exam cue: Draw forces at each stage of a terminal-velocity explanation.
Concept 3
Track work, potential and kinetic energy, power and useful versus wasted output.
Exam cue: Follow energy transfers rather than saying energy is lost.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Using mass and weight interchangeably.
Guardrail: Do not use calculator-dependent shortcuts, import a fact outside the annual specification or overlook a unit, sign, scale or course-module boundary.
Conserving kinetic energy in every collision.
Guardrail: Do not use calculator-dependent shortcuts, import a fact outside the annual specification or overlook a unit, sign, scale or course-module boundary.
Using useful output divided by wasted output for efficiency.
Guardrail: Do not use calculator-dependent shortcuts, import a fact outside the annual specification or overlook a unit, sign, scale or course-module boundary.
Memory anchors
Weight
W = mg; mass is not a force.
Terminal velocity
Drag balances weight, so acceleration is zero.
Momentum
p = mv with direction.
Impulse idea
Force is the rate of momentum change.
Energy
Eₖ = ½mv² and Eₚ = mgh.
Efficiency
Useful output divided by total input, multiplied by 100%.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
20 N moves an object 6 m along force. Work?
A 4 kg object at 3 m s⁻¹ has kinetic energy?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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