Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can explain the difference between a scalar and a vector, and use the “which way?” test on a new quantity. (Guide: “Two kinds of quantity”; Practice Q1)
- I can name distance and speed as scalars, and position, displacement, velocity and acceleration as vectors. (Guide: “Two kinds of quantity”; Practice Q1)
- I can explain why two objects with the same speed can have different velocities. (Guide: “Comparing vectors”; Practice Q5)
- I can explain what the sign of a component means, and why it has no meaning until an axis is stated. (Guide: “Choosing an axis”; Practice Q2–Q7)
Skills
- I can draw a vector as an arrow to a stated scale, with its length in proportion to its magnitude. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q4)
- I can read a vector’s size and direction from an arrow drawn to scale. (Practice Q4)
- I can write v⃗ for a full vector and v_x for its signed component, and switch between them. (Guide: “Vector notation and components”)
- I can add one-dimensional vectors tip to tail and with signed numbers, and get the same answer both ways. (Guide: Worked example 1 and Figure 2; Practice Q2)
- I can find a total distance as a scalar sum and explain why it differs from the vector sum. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q2, Q7)
- I can substitute signed values into v_x = v_x0 + a_x t, including g = 9.8 m/s² with the correct sign. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q5)
Reasoning
- I can show that reversing my axis flips every sign but gives the same physical answer. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q6)
- I can compare the speeds of two objects from their velocity components without treating a negative sign as “smaller”. (Guide: “Comparing vectors”; Practice Q3, Q6)
- I can support or reject a claim about direction or distance using signed values from data. (Guide: “Making a claim with the sign convention”; Practice Q7)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 1.2, Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration, or return to the course roadmap.