Physics Terms Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is acceleration?

The potential energy stored in chemical bonds

The rate at which velocity changes (correct)

Energy that an object has due to its motion

The force that pulls objects toward each other

What is an agent in physics?

A natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results

What does Archimedes' Principle state?

The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of fluid the object displaces.

What are balanced forces?

Upward force exerted by a fluid on a submerged object Signup and view all the answers

Define the center of gravity.

The point in an object where the force of gravity appears to act. Signup and view all the answers

What is centripetal force?

The force that causes an object to lean/push against something to move in a circle. Signup and view all the answers

What is chemical energy?

The potential energy stored in chemical bonds. Signup and view all the answers

Define electrical energy.

The energy of electrical charges. Signup and view all the answers

What is force in physics?

A push or pull exerted on an object. Signup and view all the answers

What is free fall?

The motion of a falling object when the only force acting on it is gravity. Signup and view all the answers

What is friction?

The force that one surface exerts on another when the two surfaces rub against each other. Signup and view all the answers

Define gravity.

The force that pulls objects toward each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is inertia?

The tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion. Signup and view all the answers

What is kinetic energy?

Energy that an object has due to its motion. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Law of Conservation of Energy state?

Energy can't be created or destroyed. Signup and view all the answers

Define mass.

The amount of matter in an object. Signup and view all the answers

What is mechanical energy?

The form of energy associated with the position and motion of an object. Signup and view all the answers

Define momentum.

A characteristic of a moving object that is related to the mass and velocity of an object. Signup and view all the answers

What is net force?

The overall force of an object when all the individual forces acting on it are added. Signup and view all the answers

What does Newton's 1st Law state?

An object in motion will stay in constant motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Signup and view all the answers

What does Newton's 2nd Law explain?

Acceleration depends on the object's mass and on the net force acting on the object. Signup and view all the answers

What does Newton's 3rd Law state?

For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Signup and view all the answers

Define potential energy.

Stored energy which results from the position or shape of an object. Signup and view all the answers

What is power?

The rate at which work is done. Signup and view all the answers

Define projectile.

An object that is thrown. Signup and view all the answers

What is a receiver in physics?

A device that detects electromagnetic waves. Signup and view all the answers

Define speed.

The distance an object travels per unit of time. Signup and view all the answers

What is thermal energy?

Total potential and kinetic energy of the particles in an object. Signup and view all the answers

What are unbalanced forces?

Forces that produce a nonzero net force which changes an object's motion. Signup and view all the answers

Define velocity.

Speed in a given direction. Signup and view all the answers

What is weight?

Gravity's force on an object. Signup and view all the answers

What is work in physics?

Force exerted on an object that causes it to move. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Physics Terms and Concepts

Acceleration: Rate of change of velocity; indicates how quickly an object speeds up or slows down.
Agent: Refers to natural forces or objects that produce specific effects or outcomes.
Archimedes' Principle: States buoyant force on a submerged object equals the weight of fluid displaced, crucial for understanding buoyancy.
Balanced Force: Equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions, resulting in no change in motion.
Center of Gravity: The specific point where an object's weight is evenly distributed, affecting stability and balance.
Centripetal Force: Force directing an object toward the center of a circular path, crucial for circular motion.
Chemical Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds; potential energy that can be released during reactions.
Electrical Energy: Form of energy resulting from the movement or arrangement of charged particles, fundamental in circuits.
Force: A push or pull acting on an object; can cause changes in motion or shape.
Free Fall: Describes the motion when only gravity acts on an object, resulting in a weightless state.
Friction: The resistance encountered when two surfaces interact, opposing motion between them.
Gravity: Universal force of attraction between two objects based on their mass and distance.
Inertia: The property of matter that causes it to resist changes in its state of motion; greater mass means greater inertia.
Kinetic Energy: Energy possessed by an object due to its motion, dependent on mass and velocity.
Law of Conservation of Energy: Principle that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
Mass: Quantity of matter in an object; defines the object's resistance to acceleration.
Mechanical Energy: Total energy of an object due to its motion (kinetic) and position (potential).
Momentum: Quantity derived from multiplying an object’s mass by its velocity; indicates the object’s motion characteristics.
Net Force: The resultant force acting on an object from the vector sum of all individual forces; determines acceleration and motion.
Newton's 1st Law: Law of inertia; an object remains in its current state (at rest or in uniform motion) unless compelled by an unbalanced force.
Newton's 2nd Law: Acceleration of an object is proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).
Newton's 3rd Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; explains interaction between objects.
Potential Energy: Energy stored in an object due to its position or arrangement, often convertible to kinetic energy.
Power: Measure of the rate at which work is done or energy is transformed over time.
Projectile: Any object that is thrown or projected into the air, influenced by gravity and possibly other forces.
Receiver: Device meant to detect electromagnetic waves; plays a key role in communication technologies.
Speed: Measure of how fast an object moves, calculated as distance traveled over a specific time frame.
Thermal Energy: Total energy (kinetic and potential) possessed by particles within an object, related to temperature.
Unbalanced Forces: Forces that lead to a net force greater than zero, thereby causing a change in an object’s motion.
Velocity: Speed of an object in a specific direction; provides both magnitude and direction for motion analysis.
Weight: Force of gravity acting on an object, generally dependent on its mass and the local gravitational acceleration.
Work: Action of force causing displacement; defined as the product of force and distance moved in the direction of the force.

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Test your understanding of key physics concepts with these flashcards. This quiz covers terms such as acceleration, Archimedes' Principle, and balanced forces. Perfect for students aiming to reinforce their knowledge in physics.