Physics Definitions Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is physics?

Branch of science concerned with biology and chemistry

Branch of science concerned with matter and energy and the interaction between them (correct)

Study of living organisms

None of the above

What does motion refer to?

Change in an object's position with respect to time

A particle model treats an object as a particle represented by a mass at a single point in space.

True

What is a scalar?

Quantity fully defined or described by a single number Signup and view all the answers

What is a vector?

Quantity described by magnitude and direction Signup and view all the answers

What is displacement?

Change in position Signup and view all the answers

What is velocity?

Rate of change of position vector Signup and view all the answers

What is acceleration?

Change of velocity with respect to time Signup and view all the answers

What is a motion diagram?

Composite photo showing position of object for several moments in time Signup and view all the answers

What is kinematics?

The mathematical description of motion without regard to cause Signup and view all the answers

What is uniform motion?

Straight line motion with equal displacement over successive equal-time intervals Signup and view all the answers

What is non-uniform motion?

Motion in which velocity is not constant Signup and view all the answers

What is instantaneous velocity?

Speed and direction of object at one instant in time Signup and view all the answers

What is a derivative?

Measure of how a function changes as its input changes Signup and view all the answers

What is an integral?

Summation over infinitesimally small portions of the function Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes uniformly accelerated motion?

Object's acceleration is constant Signup and view all the answers

What is 2-D kinematics?

Motion in two directions Signup and view all the answers

What is projectile motion?

Motion in which acceleration is only due to gravity Signup and view all the answers

What is a trajectory?

Path followed by a projectile object Signup and view all the answers

What is dynamics?

Study of the cause of motion Signup and view all the answers

What is force?

Any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in velocity Signup and view all the answers

What is a contact force?

Force that acts on an object through physical contact Signup and view all the answers

What is a long range force?

Force that exerts no physical contact on an object Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of superposition?

Net force on an object is given by the vector summation of all individual forces Signup and view all the answers

What does Newton's Second Law state?

Object of mass subjected to a force will undergo an acceleration (F=ma) Signup and view all the answers

Newton's First Law states that velocity will remain constant if the net force is zero.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is inertia?

Tendency of an object to resist a change in velocity Signup and view all the answers

What is propulsion?

Force that a system with an internal source of energy uses to drive itself forward Signup and view all the answers

What is equilibrium?

State of an object when the net force acting on an object is zero Signup and view all the answers

What is static equilibrium?

Zero velocity Signup and view all the answers

What is dynamic equilibrium?

Nonzero velocity Signup and view all the answers

What is interaction?

Mutual influence of two objects on each other Signup and view all the answers

What is Newton's Third Law?

When one object exerts a force on another, the second object exerts a force on the first. Signup and view all the answers

What is the massless string approximation?

Assumption that a string has zero mass Signup and view all the answers

What is a perfect pulley?

Assumption that the string is massless and pulley is frictionless Signup and view all the answers

A fictitious force is a real force acting on an object.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is uniform circular motion?

Motion in which a particle moves around a circle at a constant speed Signup and view all the answers

What is period?

Amount of time needed for a particle to go around a circle one time Signup and view all the answers

What is centripetal acceleration?

Acceleration directed toward the center of the circle Signup and view all the answers

What is angular displacement?

Change in angle used to measure the particle's circular motion Signup and view all the answers

What is angular velocity?

Rate at which a particle's angular position is changing as it moves around a circle Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Physics Fundamentals

Physics is the branch of science focused on matter, energy, and their interactions.
Motion refers to the change in an object's position over time.

Models and Descriptions

The particle model simplifies objects to a mass at a point, disregarding size or shape.
Scalars are quantities described by a single number, while vectors include both magnitude and direction.

Motion Concepts

Displacement indicates the change in position.
Velocity is the rate at which an object's position vector changes.
Acceleration describes how velocity changes over time.

Diagrammatic Representations

Motion diagrams visually represent an object's position at different times.
Kinematics provides a mathematical description of motion without exploring the causes.

Types of Motion

Uniform motion involves straight-line movement with equal displacement at equal time intervals.
Non-uniform motion has a varying velocity.
Instantaneous velocity is the speed and direction of an object at a specific moment.

Calculus in Motion

Derivatives measure how a function changes with alterations in input.
Integrals sum up values across infinitesimal segments of a function.

Specific Movement Patterns

Uniformly accelerated motion occurs with constant acceleration.
2-D kinematics deals with motion in two dimensions.
Projectile motion is characterized by acceleration solely due to gravity.
A trajectory is the path followed by a projectile.

Dynamics and Forces

Dynamics studies the causes behind motion.
A force is any influence that causes a change in an object's velocity.
Contact forces arise from physical interactions, while long-range forces operate without contact.

Principles of Force

The principle of superposition states the net force on an object is the vector sum of all individual forces.
Newton's Second Law connects force, mass, and acceleration (F=ma).
The First Law (Law of Inertia) asserts that an object maintains its velocity unless acted upon by a net force.
Inertia refers to an object's resistance to changes in motion.

Equilibrium States

Equilibrium is when the net force on an object equals zero.
Static equilibrium is characterized by zero velocity, whereas dynamic equilibrium involves nonzero velocity.

Interactions and Reactions

Interaction denotes the mutual influence between two objects.
Newton's Third Law states that forces occur in action/reaction pairs between two objects.

Theoretical Assumptions

The massless string approximation assumes strings have no mass.
A perfect pulley comprises a massless string and a frictionless pulley.

Concept of Fictitious Forces

Fictitious forces are not real; they describe motion without external forces acting on the object.

Circular Motion Specifics

Uniform circular motion involves a constant speed along a circular path with uniform angular velocity.
The period is the time taken for a complete circle.
Centripetal acceleration points towards the center of the circle.
Angular displacement measures the change in angle during circular motion.
Angular velocity reflects the rate of change of angular position as the particle moves in a circle.

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Test your knowledge of essential physics definitions with these flashcards. Each card presents a key term and its concise explanation, covering fundamental concepts like motion and the particle model. Perfect for students and enthusiasts looking to reinforce their understanding of physics.