UPCAT Physics — Work, Energy & ImpulseMemory Anchors

Tags

• formula
• work
• trigonometry

Topic

Work

Concept

Work formula: W = F × d × cos(θ)

Anchor Id

A1

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Wise Filipinos Dance Carefully - Work equals Force times distance times Cosine

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

The acronym creates a memorable phrase using familiar words, and the alliteration helps recall the order of variables

Example Usage

When solving: 'A box is pulled 5m with 10N force at 60°', think 'Wise Filipinos Dance Carefully' → W = 10 × 5 × cos(60°)

Recall Trigger

Think 'Wise Filipinos' whenever you see a work problem

Tags

• formula
• kinetic energy
• motion

Topic

Energy

Concept

Kinetic Energy formula: KE = ½mv²

Anchor Id

A2

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Picture a speeding jeepney (mass m) - the faster it goes (v squared), the more kinetic energy it has. The ½ represents that only half the engine power goes to kinetic energy, the other half to overcoming friction

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Uses a familiar Filipino transportation image and explains why there's a ½ in the formula

Example Usage

For a 1000kg jeepney moving at 20 m/s, imagine the jeepney's speed creating energy: KE = ½(1000)(20²)

Recall Trigger

Visualize a colorful jeepney speeding down EDSA

Tags

• formula
• potential energy
• height

Topic

Energy

Concept

Potential Energy formula: PE = mgh

Anchor Id

A3

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Maria Goes High - A student named Maria (m) climbs to the top of Mayon Volcano. The higher she Goes (g for gravity pulls her down), the Higher (h) she climbs, the more Potential Energy she stores, ready to slide down fast!

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Creates a narrative with a Filipino name and landmark, making the abstract concept concrete and memorable

Example Usage

For a 50kg student 10m high: Picture Maria at that height on Mayon → PE = 50 × 9.8 × 10

Recall Trigger

Think of Maria climbing Mayon Volcano

Tags

• conservation
• energy transfer
• concept

Topic

Energy Conservation

Concept

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Anchor Id

A4

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Like money in your wallet and bank account - you can transfer money between them, but your total wealth stays the same. Kinetic energy (wallet cash - easy to spend/use) and potential energy (bank savings - stored for later) can convert back and forth, but total mechanical energy remains constant

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Uses the familiar concept of money management that students understand intuitively

Example Usage

When a ball falls: 'Money transfers from bank (PE) to wallet (KE), but total wealth (mechanical energy) is unchanged'

Recall Trigger

Think 'Energy Banking System'

Tags

• formula
• impulse
• momentum

Topic

Impulse

Concept

Impulse formula: J = FΔt = Δp

Anchor Id

A5

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Jump and Thrust, Force times Time you must, equals Change in momentum trust!

Anchor Type

rhyme

Why It Works

The rhyme creates a rhythmic pattern that's easy to remember, and 'Jump' reminds you of impulse

Example Usage

For impulse problems, recite the rhyme: J (Jump) = F × Δt = Δp (momentum change)

Recall Trigger

Think of jumping and the rhyme starts

Tags

• units
• work
• energy

Topic

Units

Concept

Units of Work and Energy: Joule (J)

Anchor Id

A6

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Picture a jewel (sounds like Joule) powering a lightbulb - work creates energy that makes things bright. The jewel represents 1 Newton-meter of work or energy

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Sound association (jewel/Joule) combined with visual imagery of energy producing light

Example Usage

When asked for units: 'What jewel powers the system?' → Joule (J)

Recall Trigger

See a sparkling jewel lighting up

Tags

• theorem
• work
• energy
• motion

Topic

Work-Energy Relationship

Concept

Work-Energy Theorem: Net Work = Change in KE

Anchor Id

A7

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Worker Eduardo pushes a cart all day. The net work Eduardo does equals exactly how much faster (change in kinetic energy) the cart becomes. No work is ever wasted - it all goes into motion!

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Personalizes the theorem with a Filipino name and relates to everyday work experience

Example Usage

For work-energy problems: 'Eduardo's net work = how much faster his cart gets' → W_net = ΔKE

Recall Trigger

Think of Worker Eduardo and his cart

Tags

• formula
• power
• work rate

Topic

Power

Concept

Power formula: P = W/t = Fv

Anchor Id

A8

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Powerful Workers Transfer Fast - Power equals Work over time equals Force times velocity

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The acronym emphasizes the connection between power, work, and speed

Example Usage

For power calculations: 'Powerful Workers Transfer Fast' → P = W/t = F × v

Recall Trigger

Think 'Powerful Workers'

Tags

• collision types
• energy
• momentum

Topic

Collisions

Concept

Elastic vs Inelastic Collisions

Anchor Id

A9

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Elastic = Bouncy ball (energy bounces back, springs back to original shape). Inelastic = Clay ball (energy gets absorbed, stays deformed, sticks together)

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Uses contrasting textures that students can physically imagine and touch

Example Usage

For collision problems: 'Is it bouncy ball (elastic) or clay ball (inelastic)?'

Recall Trigger

Picture bouncy ball vs clay ball

Tags

• formula
• momentum
• mass
• velocity

Topic

Momentum

Concept

Momentum formula: p = mv

Anchor Id

A10

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Momentum Please, equals Mass times Velocity with ease!

Anchor Type

rhyme

Why It Works

Simple rhyme that directly connects the variables, easy to recall under pressure

Example Usage

For momentum problems: Say 'Momentum Please' → p = m × v

Recall Trigger

Think 'Please' and the rhyme follows

Tags

• work
• perpendicular
• zero work

Topic

Work

Concept

When work is zero (perpendicular force)

Anchor Id

A11

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Imagine carrying a heavy bag while walking horizontally - you do NO work on the bag because the force (upward) is perpendicular to motion (horizontal). Like carrying a sleeping baby - no matter how heavy, if you walk straight, no work is done on the baby!

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Uses relatable everyday experience that clearly shows perpendicular forces

Example Usage

For zero work problems: 'Am I carrying the baby (perpendicular force)?' → W = 0

Recall Trigger

Picture carrying a sleeping baby while walking

Tags

• potential energy
• reference point
• height

Topic

Potential Energy

Concept

Gravitational PE reference point

Anchor Id

A12

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Like measuring height of buildings from ground level (reference = 0), gravitational PE needs a starting point. Ground floor = zero PE, every floor up = more PE. You choose where 'ground floor' is!

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Building floors are a familiar concept for understanding reference points

Example Usage

For PE problems: 'What's my ground floor (reference point)?' → PE = mgh from that point

Recall Trigger

Think of building floors and ground level

Tags

• impulse
• momentum
• theorem

Topic

Impulse

Concept

Impulse-Momentum Theorem relationship

Anchor Id

A13

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Captain Juan pushes his bangka (boat). The harder and longer he pushes (impulse = F×t), the more the bangka's momentum changes. Every push creates momentum change - they're equal twins!

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Uses Filipino maritime culture and emphasizes the equality between impulse and momentum change

Example Usage

For impulse problems: 'Captain Juan's push equals momentum change' → J = Δp

Recall Trigger

Picture Captain Juan pushing his bangka

Tags

• conservative forces
• energy
• friction

Topic

Forces and Energy

Concept

Conservative vs Non-conservative forces

Anchor Id

A14

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Conservative forces are like a good parent - they save energy for you (like gravity and springs). Non-conservative forces are like a spending spree - they waste energy as heat (like friction and air resistance). Conservative = Saves, Non-conservative = Spends

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Relates to familiar concepts of saving vs spending money

Example Usage

For energy problems: 'Does this force save energy (conservative) or spend it (non-conservative)?'

Recall Trigger

Think 'Good parent saves, spender wastes'

Tags

• spring
• force
• elasticity

Topic

Elastic Force

Concept

Hooke's Law: F = kx

Anchor Id

A15

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Picture a slingshot (Filipinos use 'tirador') - the more you stretch it (x), the stronger it pulls back (F). The 'k' is how stubborn the rubber is. Stubborn rubber (high k) = strong force, weak rubber (low k) = gentle force

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Slingshot is a familiar tool that perfectly demonstrates spring force

Example Usage

For spring problems: 'How stubborn is my slingshot rubber?' → F = k × x

Recall Trigger

See a slingshot being stretched

Tags

• efficiency
• energy
• machines

Topic

Efficiency

Concept

Efficiency formula: Efficiency = (Output/Input) × 100%

Anchor Id

A16

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Like getting change at a sari-sari store - efficiency tells you how much useful energy you get back compared to what you paid (input energy). Perfect efficiency = getting exact change, but machines are never perfect, some energy is always 'lost' like dropped coins

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Shopping and getting change is a universal experience that illustrates the input-output relationship

Example Usage

For efficiency problems: 'How much useful change did I get back?' → (Useful output/Total input) × 100%

Recall Trigger

Think of getting change at a sari-sari store

Tags

• kinetic energy
• safety
• stopping distance

Topic

Energy and Motion

Concept

Stopping distance and kinetic energy relationship

Anchor Id

A17

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Driver Jose doubles his speed from 30 to 60 kph. His kinetic energy becomes 4 times bigger (v²), so he needs 4 times longer distance to stop! Speed doubles, stopping distance quadruples - that's why speeding is dangerous!

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Relates to road safety, something every Filipino driver knows, and emphasizes the v² relationship

Example Usage

For stopping distance: 'Jose doubled speed, so 4× stopping distance' → KE ∝ v²

Recall Trigger

Think of Driver Jose doubling speed

Tags

• machines
• work
• mechanical advantage

Topic

Simple Machines

Concept

Mechanical advantage and work relationship

Anchor Id

A18

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Simple machines are like helpful friends - they make force easier (mechanical advantage) but you still do the same total work. Using a crowbar to lift a rock: easier force but you move your hand farther. Work input = Work output always!

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Emphasizes that machines help with force but don't create free energy

Example Usage

For machine problems: 'My helpful friend makes force easier but work stays same' → W_in = W_out

Recall Trigger

Picture a helpful friend with a crowbar

Formula

W = F × d × cos(θ)

Mnemonic

Wise Filipinos Dance Carefully

When To Use

When calculating work done by a force at an angle to the direction of motion

What Each Part Means

W = Work done, F = Applied force, d = displacement distance, cos(θ) = angle factor between force and displacement

Formula

KE = ½mv²

Mnemonic

Kinetic Energy: Half Mass Velocity-squared

When To Use

When finding energy of motion for any moving object

What Each Part Means

KE = kinetic energy, ½ = half factor, m = mass of object, v² = velocity squared

Formula

PE = mgh

Mnemonic

Maria Goes High

When To Use

When calculating stored gravitational energy based on height

What Each Part Means

PE = potential energy, m = mass, g = gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²), h = height above reference

Formula

J = FΔt = Δp

Mnemonic

Jump Force-Time equals momentum Delta

When To Use

When analyzing collisions, explosions, or any sudden force application

What Each Part Means

J = impulse, F = average force, Δt = time interval, Δp = change in momentum

Formula

P = W/t = Fv

Mnemonic

Powerful Workers Transfer Fast

When To Use

When calculating rate of energy transfer or work done per unit time

What Each Part Means

P = power, W = work done, t = time taken, F = force, v = velocity

Chain Title

Types of Mechanical Energy

Recall Test

What are the two main types of mechanical energy that add up to total mechanical energy?

Memory Chain

King Penguin Takes - Kinetic energy (motion), Potential energy (position), Total energy (sum of both)

Items To Remember

• Kinetic Energy
• Potential Energy
• Total Mechanical Energy

Chain Title

Energy Conservation Steps

Recall Test

What are the four steps to solve energy conservation problems?

Memory Chain

I Identified Filipino Singers - First identify where you start, then where you end, apply conservation (energy constant), solve the problem

Items To Remember

• Identify initial state
• Identify final state
• Apply conservation law
• Solve for unknown

Chain Title

Work Conditions

Recall Test

What are the three possible signs of work and when do they occur?

Memory Chain

Police Never Zoom - Positive (force helps motion), Negative (force opposes motion), Zero (force perpendicular to motion)

Items To Remember

• Positive work
• Negative work
• Zero work

Chain Title

Collision Analysis Steps

Recall Test

What are the four stages to analyze in collision problems?

Memory Chain

Before During After Checking - Analyze momentum before, during, after collision, then check if momentum is conserved

Items To Remember

• Before collision
• During collision
• After collision
• Conservation check

Chain Title

Power Units Conversion

Recall Test

What are the common units for measuring power from smallest to largest?

Memory Chain

Workers Have Killer Muscles - Watts (basic), Horsepower (mechanical), Kilowatts (thousands), Megawatts (millions)

Items To Remember

• Watts
• Horsepower
• Kilowatts
• Megawatts