Physics Mid-term Review Vocabulary
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Created by:
qv12_greener on January 4, 2011
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65 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Accuracy | a description of how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity measured |
| controlled experiment | an experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time |
| Dimension | the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height) |
| Electromagnetism | magnetic field created by electricity |
| Error | The difference between the experimental value and the accepted value |
| Hypothesis | a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations |
| inverse Relationship | a relationship in which one variable decreases when another variable increases. |
| Direct Relationship (Linear Relationship) | a relationship between two factors in which the factors move in the same direction |
| Mechanics | the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies in a frame of reference |
| Model | the act of representing something (usually on a smaller scale) |
| Optics | n. The science that treats of light and vision, and all that is connected with sight. |
| physics | the study of matter and energy |
| precision | a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another |
| Quantum Mechanics | behavior of submicroscopic particles |
| Relativity | the study of the relationships among space, energy, mass and time |
| replication experiment | When a previously designed and completed experiment is repeated and its validity is tested. |
| Significant figures | all known digits plus one estimated digit |
| scientific method | a series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions |
| standard | a basis for comparison |
| thermodynamics | the science of energy conversion involving heat and other forms of energy |
| Unit | a single undivided whole |
| vibrations and wave phenomena | specific types of repetitive motions like springs, pendulums, and sound |
| acceleration | (physics) a rate of change of velocity |
| acceleration due to gravity | the acceleration of an object in free fall that results from the influence of Earth's gravity |
| average speed/velocity | calculated by (total distance or displacement) / (total time) |
| constant speed/velocity | Occurs when an object moves so that it's instantaneous speed (or velocity) is the same at every instant in it's motion. |
| convention | process by which heat is transferred by movement of a heated fluid such as air or water. |
| Displacement | distance and direction of an object's change in position from the starting point |
| Distance | the property created by the space between two objects or points |
| Free-fall | the motion of a falling object when the only force acting on it is gravity |
| instantaneous Speed/velocity | velocity (or speed) at that instant of time |
| kinematics | the study of motion |
| one-dimensional motion | Movement along only one line (in only one dimension). |
| scalar | a physical quantity that has magnitude but no direction |
| speed | distance travelled per unit time |
| vector | a quantity that has magnitude and direction |
| velocity | speed and direction |
| frame of reference | The perspective from which motion is viewed |
| projectile | an object that is thrown |
| resolving a vector | Breaking a vector into it's components. |
| resultant | A force, velocity, or other vector quantity that is equivalent to the combined effect of two or more component vectors acting at the same point. |
| action-reaction force pair | For every action, there is an equal & opposite reaction. |
| apparent weightlessness | Close to having a weight of zero, but not quite |
| balanced force | two or more forces that are equal and opposite of one another; do not cause change in motion |
| coefficient of friction | Mu |
| contact force | A force between two objects that are touching each other. |
| Equilibrant | a force that places an object in equilibrium; is the same magnitude as the resultant, but in the opposite direction |
| Equilibrium | a stable situation in which forces cancel one another |
| field force | force exerted upon another object without physical contact in an electric field |
| force | physical energy or intensity |
| free-body diagram | displays the forces acting on an object and their vectors |
| inertia | the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion |
| kinetic friction | the friction an object experiences when it is in motion |
| mass | the amount of space an object consumes, measured in kg, or Newton's. |
| net force | the combination of all forces acting on an object |
| Newton's First Law of Motion | an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by another force |
| Newton's Second law of Motion | F=MA |
| Newton's Third Law of Motion | for every action there is an opposite but equal reaction |
| Normal Force | Pushes up on an object |
| Static equilibrium | the state of an object when all forces acting on it sum to zero. |
| Static Friction | frictional force that prevents two surfaces from sliding past each other |
| Terminal Velocity | the greatest velocity a falling object reaches |
| True Weightlessness | Something that only occurs deep in space, far away from gravitational influences. |
| Unbalanced force | When two forces acting on each other cause an object to move. |
| Weight | the force of gravity on an object |
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