PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
During a laboratory investigation, a student records the following physical quantities while tracking the motion of a toy car on a straight track:
• distance traveled
• instantaneous velocity
• net force on the car
• translational kinetic energy
• linear momentum
Answer the following questions about these quantities.
(a) Identify all of the quantities in the list that are scalars.
(b) For translational kinetic energy, state whether its numerical value can ever be negative. Justify your answer concisely.
(c) Explain, in two or three coherent sentences, why translational kinetic energy is classified as a scalar even though it depends on the speed of the object, which itself is derived from a vector quantity.