Physical Science Midterm Study Guide

Physical Science Midterm Study Guide

• Review: Review material for the midterm in the week of January 13th. Complete the study guide by the exam date.
• Study Guide Completion: Complete the study guide on a separate sheet of paper.
• No Retakes/Corrections: No test corrections or retakes are allowed on the midterm.
• Study Tips: Use sample questions and concepts covered in class to prepare for various question types on the midterm.

Vocabulary/Concepts

• Independent Variable: A variable that is changed or manipulated in an experiment.
• Dependent Variable: A variable that is measured or observed in an experiment.
• Line/Bar Graphs: Graphs used to represent data. Line graphs are used to show trends over time and bar graph are used to compare different categories.
• Percentage: A part of a whole expressed as a fraction of 100.
• Average Speed: The total distance traveled divided by the total time.
• Velocity: Speed in a given direction.
• Terminal Velocity: The constant velocity reached by an object falling through a fluid (like air).
• Acceleration: Rate of change of velocity over time.
• Percent Change: The difference between the new value and the original value divided by the original value, multiplied by 100.
• Rate of Change: How a quantity changes over time.
• Percent Difference: The absolute difference between two values divided by the average of the two values, multiplied by 100.
• Percent Error: The difference between the measured value and the true value, divided by the true value, multiplied by 100.
• Interval: A specific range of values.
• Force: A push or pull that causes acceleration.
• Net Force: The sum of all forces acting on an object.
• Balanced Forces: When the net force is zero.
• Unbalanced Forces: When the net force is not zero, leading to an acceleration.
• Free-Body Diagram: A diagram used to show all forces acting on an object.
• Momentum: Mass in motion. The amount of body in motion (kg·m/s).
• Elastic Collision: A collision in which kinetic energy is conserved.
• Inelastic Collision: A collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved.
• Impulse: Change in momentum.
• Gravitational Force: The attractive force between any two objects with mass.
• Acceleration due to Gravity: The acceleration of an object due to gravity.
• Newton's Second Law: Force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma).
• Friction: Force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.
• Atom: The basic building block of matter.
• Proton, Neutron, Electron: Subatomic particles within an atom.
• Electron Cloud: The region around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are likely to be found.
• Orbit /Ellipse: A path in which a celestial body goes around another celestial body, with some paths being elliptical.
• Kepler's Laws: Laws describing planetary motion.
• Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion.
• Potential Energy: Stored energy.
• Units: Units of measurement like kilograms (kg), meters (m), meters per second (m/s), meters per second squared (m/s²), and Joules (J).
• *Newton's - kg m/s²: A unit of force
• Electrical Energy: Energy associated with electric charges.
• Thermal Energy: Energy related to temperature.

Scientific Method

• Independent/Dependent Variables: Independent variable is manipulated; Dependent variable is measured.
• Graphing: Line graphs for trends, bar graphs for comparisons.
• Processed Data: Using processed data in conclusions helps to draw meaningful analyses from the data.

Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration

• Units: m/s and m/s² represent different concepts so ensure distinctions are clear for understanding the terms.
• Graph Analysis: The graph shows velocity over time and is used to analyse the acceleration from the graph.
• Velocity Equations: Determine the equation for velocity. Calculate average velocity from given values.
• Acceleration Definition: Acceleration occurs when velocity changes over time.
• Percent Difference Calculation: Calculate percent differences in measurements over time to analyse the trend.

Momentum

• Momentum Calculation: Calculate momentum.
• Conservation of Momentum: Momentum is conserved during collisions if there are no external forces on the system, the total momentum before the collision and total momentum after the collision should be identical.
• Unit Relationship: Momentum's unit (kg⋅m/s) relates to velocity as velocity is the rate of change of position, and momentum is a measure of the body in motion.

Forces and Impulse

•  Forces: A push or pull that can change motion.
•  Balanced Forces: Net force is zero, there is no change in motion.
• Relationship between Force, Mass, and Acceleration: Force equals mass multiplied by acceleration (F = ma).
• Force Calculation: Calculate the amount of force given mass and acceleration.
•  Impulse Change in momentum (kg•m/s).
•  Impulse Calculation: Calculate impulse with respect to momentum.

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

•  Mass and Force: Increase in mass of two objects will increase their gravitational force on each other
• Distance and Force: Increase in distance between two objects will decrease the gravitational force
•  Acceleration Differences: The differences in acceleration due to gravity on different objects results from differences in the mass of the object it is acting on. 

Kepler's Laws

• Kepler's Second Law: Explains planetary movement as an ellipse rather than simply a circular orbit. It is valid because the motion is elliptical. This has a direct relationship with the Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum.
• Eccentricities: Eccentricities define the shape and elongation of an ellipse. An ellipse with zero eccentricity is a circle and one with a high eccentricity is a stretched-out ellipse.
• Similarities and Differences: Similarities and differences between ellipses of varying eccentricities are illustrated in diagrams.
• Earth's Orbit: Explain Earth's orbit around the Sun as it goes around in an elliptical-shaped path. The paths also show the perihelion and aphelion (closest and farthest points in orbit around the Sun) positions.

Energy and Energy Transformations

• Energy Flow Charts: Create an energy flow chart for transforming energy to show the steps of an activity.
• Potential Energy Types: Potential energies (GPE) are different types of energy stored in a system, such as gravitational potential energy and potential energy from elastic forces
• Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion, with the equation KE = 1/2mv².
• Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
• Energy Unit (Joules): The joule (J) is energy relating to work and force, being units of Newtons multiplied by meters.

Atom, Coulomb's Law, and Static Electricity

• Atomic Structure: Explains the structure of an atom by classifying different parts of its composition.
• Subatomic Particles: Defines protons, neutrons, and electrons and their properties, like their roles in electricity and magnetism.
• Static Electricity: Explains what causes static electricity.
• Coulomb's Law: Explains the force of attraction between charges from Coulombs Law.
• Comparison with Universal Gravitation: Compares how Coulomb's law resembles and differs from the law of universal gravitation, in terms of equations.

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

• EMR Definition: Explains in detail what Electromagnetic radiation is.
• Frequency and Wavelength: Explains how frequency and wavelength of EMR affect the kind of EMR.
• Electron States and EMR: Describes changes in electrones using EMR as a form of energy transition.

Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric and Magnetic Fields: Describes how electric and magnetic fields are created.
• Ohm's Law/Circuits: Explains how current, voltage, and resistance affect a circuit.
• Faraday's Law: Explains how magnetic fields can induce current.
• Electric/Magnetic Relationships: Describes the electric and magnetism relationships.

Prepare for your upcoming midterm exam in Physical Science with this comprehensive study guide. It highlights key concepts, important vocabulary, and effective study tips to help you succeed. Ensure you complete the study guide by the exam date to maximize your understanding of the material.