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This is the curriculum mapping page for mechanics topics. The topics are grouped according to a summary of the Edexcel schemes.

Each module contains a brief description of the content followed by subsections with more detailed accompanying headings, so it should be easy to translate this into other schemes of work.

Problems or articles are variously suggested for the overall module, topic, topic subsection or detailed objective. However, with these applied modules it can be less clear when and where a problem will be most suitable for use. We have put problems in a suggested place, but recommend that you consider the material in the context of a whole module when determining the most appropriate point of use. Also, problems often draw together strands from mechanics as a whole, so certain aspects of certain problems might be of use at different points in the curriculum. Thus, if searching for enrichments material, you might wish to look for material in modules outside those of primary interest.

Finally, please note that this material is under development. New problems will arrive on a regular basis and it is intended that detailed teachers' notes will eventually accompany all of the problems.

MECHANICS M1 Mathematical models in mechanics; vectors in mechanics; kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line; dynamics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane; statics of a particle; moments.	.
MATHEMATICAL MODELS IN MECHANICS	.
The basic ideas of mathematical modelling as applied in Mechanics.	Model solutions
VECTORS IN MECHANICS	.
Magnitude and direction of a vector.	Spotting the loophole
Application of vectors to displacements, velocities, accelerations and forces in a plane.	.
KINEMATICS OF A PARTICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE	.
Motion in a straight line with constant acceleration.	Canon balls , Dangerous driver
DYNAMICS OF A PARTICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR PLANE	.
The concept of a force. Newton's laws of motion.	Gravity paths
Simple applications including the motion of two connected particles.	Making more tracks
Momentum and impulse. The principle of conservation of momentum applied to two particles colliding directly.	.
Coefficient of friction.	.
STATICS OF A PARTICLE	.
Forces treated as vectors. Resolution of forces.	Bridge builder
Equilibrium of a particle under coplanar forces.	.
Weight, normal reaction, tension and thrust.	More bridge building
Coefficient of friction.	.
MOMENTS	.
Moment of a force.	.

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MECHANICS M2 Kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane; centres of mass; work and energy; collisions; statics of rigid bodies.	.
KINEMATICS OF A PARTICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR PLANE	.
Motion in a vertical plane with constant acceleration	High Jumping
Simple cases of motion of a projectile. Velocity and acceleration when the displacement is a function of time.	Dam busters 1 , Dam busters 2
Differentiation and integration of a vector with respect to time.	.
CENTRES OF MASS	.
Centre of mass of a discrete mass distribution in one and two dimensions.	.
Centre of mass of uniform plane figures, and simple cases of composite plane figures.	.
Simple cases of equilibrium of a plane lamina.	.
WORK AND ENERGY	.
Kinetic and potential energy, work and power. The work-energy principle. The principle of conservation of mechanical energy.	Escape from planet Earth , Lunar leaper , Go spaceship go
COLLISIONS	.
Momentum as a vector. The impulse-momentum principle in vector form. Conservation of linear momentum.	Whoosh
Direct impact of elastic particles. Newton's law of restitution. Loss of mechanical energy due to impact.	Canon balls (extension task)
Successive impacts of up to three particles or two particles and a smooth plane surface.	.
STATICS OF RIGID BODIES	.
Moment of a force.	Overarch 1
Equilibrium of rigid bodies. Problems involving parallel and non-parallel coplanar forces.	.

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MECHANICS M3 Further kinematics; elastic strings and springs; further dynamics; motion in a circle; statics of rigid bodies.	.
FURTHER KINEMATICS	.
Kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line when the acceleration is a function of the displacement (x), or time (t).	Out in space
ELASTIC STRINGS AND SPRINGS	.
Elastic strings and springs. Hooke's law. Energy stored in an elastic string or spring.	Building up friction
FURTHER DYNAMICS	.
Newton's laws of motion for a particle moving in one dimension when the applied force is variable.	.
Simple harmonic motion.	.
Oscillations of a particle attached to the end of an elastic string or spring.	.
MOTION IN A CIRCLE	.
Angular speed.	.
Radial acceleration in circular motion. The forms rw and v2/r are required.	Whirlyball
Uniform motion of a particle moving in a horizontal circle.	.
Motion of a particle in a vertical circle.	.
STATICS OF RIGID BODIES	.
Centre of mass of uniform rigid bodies and simple composite bodies.	Wobbler
Simple cases of equilibrium of rigid bodies.	.

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MECHANICS M4 Relative motion; elastic collisions in two dimensions; further motion of particles in one dimension; stability.	.
RELATIVE MOTION	Which twin is older?
Relative motion of two particles, including relative displacement and relative velocity.	Take a message soldier
ELASTIC COLLISIONS IN TWO DIMENSIONS	.
Oblique impact of smooth elastic spheres and a smooth sphere with a fixed surface.	.
FURTHER MOTION OF PARTICLES IN ONE DIMENSION	.
Resisted motion of a particle moving in a straight line.	.
Damped and/or forced harmonic motion	The not-so-simple pendulum 2
STABILITY	.
Finding equilibrium positions of a system from consideration of its potential energy.	.

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MECHANICS M5 Applications of vectors in mechanics; variable mass; moments of inertia of a rigid body; rotation of a rigid body about a fixed smooth axis.	.
APPLICATIONS OF VECTORS IN MECHANICS	.
Solution of simple vector differential equations	Differential Equation Matcher , Its only a minus sign
Work done by a constant force using a scalar product.	.
Moment of a force using a vector product	.
The analysis of simple systems of forces in three dimensions acting on a rigid body.	.
VARIABLE MASS	.
Motion of a particle with varying mass.	.
MOMENTS OF INERTIA OF A RIGID BODY	.
Moments of inertia and radius of gyration of standard and composite bodies.	.
The parallel and perpendicular axes theorems.	.
ROTATION OF A RIGID BODY ABOUT A FIXED SMOOTH AXIS	.
Motion of a rigid body about a fixed smooth horizontal or vertical axis.	.
Angular momentum.	.
Kinetic energy.	.
Conservation of angular momentum. The effect of an impulse on a rigid body which is free to rotate about a fixed axis.	.
Simple pendulum and compound pendulum.	The Not-so-simple pendulum 1 , The not-so-simple pendulum 2