Physics Flashcards on Basic Concepts

Questions and Answers

What is science?

The collective findings of humans about nature (correct)

A set of mathematical equations

An explanation for phenomena

A method for organizing knowledge

What is the scientific method?

An orderly method for gaining, organizing, and applying new knowledge.

Define scientific attitude.

The scientific method inclined toward inquiry, integrity, and humility.

What is physics?

The most basic of all sciences. Signup and view all the answers

What is a qualitative description?

A description based on some characteristic quality that does not involve a quantity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a quantitative description?

A description based on some measured quantity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of the scientific method?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a great circle?

A circle that has the center of the earth as its center. Signup and view all the answers

Inches, feet, yard, miles, centimeters, meter, and kilometers are all units of ___?

length Signup and view all the answers

Second (s), minutes, days, years are units of ___?

time Signup and view all the answers

Kg, pounds are units of ___?

mass Signup and view all the answers

Newtons are units of ___?

force Signup and view all the answers

What is natural motion?

Motion that doesn't require an assist. Signup and view all the answers

What is violent motion?

Motion that requires an assist, such as a push or pull. Signup and view all the answers

Heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones due to air pressure.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is inertia?

The property of an object to resist changes in motion. Signup and view all the answers

What does Newton's First Law of Motion state?

Every object continues in a state of rest or uniform speed in a straight line unless acted on by a net external force. Signup and view all the answers

Give examples of Newton's First Law.

A car braking at a stoplight, a skier accelerating in a straight line down a mountain. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if an object has more inertia?

It will be more difficult to change in motion than an object with less. Signup and view all the answers

What is a scalar quantity?

A quantity that is fully described by specifying its number. Signup and view all the answers

What is a vector quantity?

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Signup and view all the answers

How are vectors represented?

By arrows. Signup and view all the answers

How many Newtons does one pound of force equal?

4.49 N Signup and view all the answers

What is the Physics Primer?

A set of mathematics topics that are relevant to introductory physics courses. Signup and view all the answers

A scientific hypothesis deemed valid must have a test for proving it ___?

wrong Signup and view all the answers

A fact in science is ___?

an agreement between trained investigators Signup and view all the answers

A theory in science is ___?

a synthesis of well-tested ideas Signup and view all the answers

What is the test for whether a hypothesis is scientific or not?

A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it wrong. Signup and view all the answers

What is pseudoscience?

Claims that are presented as scientific but do not meet scientific standards. Signup and view all the answers

Must people choose between science and religion?

False Signup and view all the answers

Clearly distinguish between science and technology.

Science gathers the knowledge that technology uses for practical purposes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is the most basic science?

Physics Signup and view all the answers

What type of path does a moving object follow in the absence of a force?

It continues to move in a straight line at a constant speed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the net force on a cart that is pulled to the right with 100 pounds of force and to the left with 30 pounds of force?

70 to the right. Signup and view all the answers

What is the resultant of a pair of 1-N forces at right angles to each other?

1.41 newtons in a direction bisecting the angle between the two vectors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the resultant of a 35-N horizontal force and a 30-N vertical force?

46.10 N. Signup and view all the answers

What is the net force when a pair of 5-N forces simultaneously act in the same direction on an object?

10 N. Signup and view all the answers

A 12-N book is at rest on a flat table. How many Newtons of support force does the table provide?

12 newtons up. Signup and view all the answers

Lucy Lightfoot stands with one foot on one bathroom scale and her other foot on a second bathroom scale. Each scale reads 370 N. What is Lucy's weight?

740 N. Signup and view all the answers

Henry Heavyweight weighs 990 N and stands on a pair of bathroom scales so that the first scale reads twice as much as the second one. What are the scale readings?

660 N, 330 N. Signup and view all the answers

What is mechanical equilibrium?

Any object at rest or moving in a straight line at a constant speed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the equilibrium rule?

The sum of all forces acting on the object must be zero. Signup and view all the answers

What is a friction force?

A contact force that always acts opposite to the direction of motion. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Science and the Scientific Method

Science involves the systematic gathering and organization of knowledge about nature.
The scientific method is a structured approach to obtaining and applying new knowledge, encompassing steps from observation to formulating rules based on experiments.
A scientific attitude emphasizes inquiry, integrity, and humility.

Physics

Considered the foundational science, underpinning fields like chemistry, engineering, astronomy, and biology.
Covers a vast range of phenomena, from galaxy formation to atomic particle interactions.

Descriptions in Science

Qualitative descriptions include non-numeric characteristics, e.g., warmth (the pan is hot).
Quantitative descriptions rely on measurable values, e.g., "the pan was at 87 degrees Celsius."

Motion and Forces

Natural motion occurs without external assistance, such as falling or planetary orbits.
Violent motion requires an external push or pull, like towing a cart.
Heavier objects fall faster due to air pressure differences.

Newton's Law of Motion

Newton's First Law states an object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in motion. More inertia means more difficulty in changing motion.

Scalars and Vectors

Scalar quantities are described solely by a magnitude (e.g., speed).
Vector quantities possess both magnitude and direction (e.g., force).

Scientific Validity

A valid scientific hypothesis must be susceptible to proof of being wrong.
Facts in science emerge from consensus among trained investigators.
Theories represent integrated and tested ideas.

Pseudoscience and Religion

Pseudoscience includes claims presented as scientific that don't adhere to rigorous standards.
Science and religion are not inherently contradictory; individuals can engage in both.

The Role of Physics

Physics provides foundational knowledge that technology applies for practical uses.

Motion and Forces in Equilibrium

A moving object without force continues in a straight line at constant speed.
Net force can be calculated from opposing forces (e.g., 100 lbs right, 30 lbs left results in 70 lbs right).
Mechanical equilibrium exists when an object is at rest or maintains a steady velocity, with all acting forces balanced to zero.

Support and Friction Forces

Support force (normal force) counters weight, e.g., a 12-N book resting on a table receives 12 N support upwards.
Frictional forces act opposite to motion on surfaces in contact, resisting movement.

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Test your understanding of fundamental concepts in physics with these flashcards. Covering key terms such as science, scientific method, and scientific attitude, this quiz will help reinforce your knowledge in a structured way.