Fluid Mechanics and Projectile Motion | OCR A-Level Physical Education (H555)
Fluid Mechanics and Projectile Motion
- 74 questions
- 5 subtopics
- Component 01: Physiological factors affecting performance
- Component 01
Fluid Mechanics and Projectile Motion is examined in Component 01, Physiological factors affecting performance.
It covers air resistance and drag, factors affecting projectile distance, forces on a projectile and flight paths, Bernoulli's principle and lift and spin and the Magnus effect.
Sample questions from Fluid Mechanics and Projectile Motion
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Air resistance and drag
How does a track cyclist reduce frontal cross-sectional area?
Show the answer
The cyclist crouches low over the handlebars with the elbows tucked in. The smaller area facing the air reduces air resistance. -
Air resistance and drag
How do swimmers alter their surface characteristics to reduce drag?
Show the answer
Swimmers wear smooth, tight-fitting suits and caps. Many swimmers also shave body hair to smooth the skin's surface. -
Factors affecting projectile distance
How can a javelin thrower increase the speed of release?
Show the answer
The thrower uses a fast run-up and a long pulling action through the throw. Greater force applied for longer gives a greater release speed. -
Factors affecting projectile distance
How does height of release affect horizontal distance?
Show the answer
A greater height of release increases the time in flight. A longer flight lets the projectile travel further horizontally. -
Forces on a projectile and flight paths
How does the parallelogram of forces find the resultant force on a projectile?
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The weight and air resistance arrows are drawn as two adjacent sides of a parallelogram. The diagonal drawn from the centre of mass shows the resultant force. -
Forces on a projectile and flight paths
Name four features of a projectile that make air resistance dominant over weight.
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High velocity, low mass and a large frontal cross-sectional area make air resistance dominant. A rough or irregular surface also increases air resistance. -
Bernoulli's principle and lift
Why does lift increase the horizontal distance of a discus throw?
Show the answer
Lift keeps the discus in the air for longer. A longer flight time gives a greater horizontal distance. -
Bernoulli's principle and lift
What is a downward lift force?
Show the answer
A downward lift force is a lift force that acts towards the ground. Downward lift is created by an inverted aerofoil shape.
The 5 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Air resistance and drag | Drag and the four factors that affect it, velocity, frontal cross-sectional area, streamlining and shape, surface characteristics, the swimmer, cyclist, golf ball and skier, parachute training and the time-trial position. | 15 |
| Factors affecting projectile distance | Projectiles and the release factors of speed, angle and height, the optimum 45° angle, shot putters, javelin throwers and long jumpers, releasing too steeply or too flat, and the hammer thrower's turns. | 14 |
| Forces on a projectile and flight paths | Weight and air resistance on projectiles in flight, free body diagrams of a shot and a badminton shuttle, the parallelogram of forces, parabolic and non-parabolic flight paths, and a football against a hammer. | 14 |
| Bernoulli's principle and lift | Bernoulli's principle and lift force, the angle of attack, the discus, javelin and ski jumper's V position, and downward lift from an F1 car's rear wing and track cycling equipment. | 15 |
| Spin and the Magnus effect | How spin is imparted, the Magnus force, topspin and backspin in tennis, golf and table tennis, how each behaves after a bounce, sidespin and a curling free kick, and the hook and slice in golf. | 16 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR A-Level Physical Education Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,133 questions with their answers.