Physics GCSE
tangent
What tangent means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of tangent
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Check what you remember
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Reference: AQA
A line drawn to a curve at a specific time whose gradient gives instantaneous acceleration.
A straight line that just touches the curve at that time without crossing it.
Topics that use tangent
- Acceleration (AQA GCSE)
- The distance–time relationship (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Acceleration
- Acceleration and units
- area under a graph
- Area under a graph as a physical quantity
- Average acceleration
- average speed
- axes and scales
- Change in velocity
Using tangent in the exam
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