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Physics Vocab!
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Equation | a statement that the values of two math expressions are equal (indicated by the sign =). |
| Law | A rule describing a relationship that always works in the same way under the same conditions. |
| frequency | the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. |
| Oscillation | movement back and forth at a regular speed |
| Wave Period | the time it takes to complete one cycle. |
| Amplitude | the distance from the resting position to the top of a crest or to the bottom of a trough. |
| Geocentrism | Geocentrism- the belief that the Earth is at the center of the Universe. |
| Heliocentrism | Heliocentrism- the belief that the Sun is at the center of the Universe |
| Acceleration | the rate at which velocity changes over time. |
| Centripetal Force | Any force that keeps an object moving in a circle. |
| Velocity | a speed in a specific direction. |
| Terminal velocity | the final, maximum velocity of the following object. |
| force | a push or pull’ something that changes the motion of an object. |
| Friction | A force that resists the motion between two surfaces in contact. |
| energy | The ability to do work or to cause a change. |
| Theory | a well-tested explanation of a phenomenon that is consistent with all available evidence. |
| Inertia | Inertia- the resistance of an object to a change in speed or direction of its motion. |
| Joule | a unit used to measure energy and work. |
| Kinetic energy | the energy of motion. |
| Law of Conservation of energy | energy is neither created nor destroyed but transformed and transferred from one form to another. |
| Law of conservation of momentum | the amount of momentum does not change in a system as long as there is no outside force acting on that system. |
| Momentum | a measure of mass in motion. |
| Motion | a change of position over time. |
| Vector | a quantity that has both size and direction. |
| Relative Motion | the idea that the observation of motion depends on the observer. |
| Newton's First Law of Motion | a law stating that an object at rest remains at rest and object in motion remains in motion with the same velocity and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force. |
| Newton's Second law of Motion | a law stating that the acceleration of an object increases with increased force, and decreases with increasing mass. |
| Newton's Third Law of Motion | a law stating that every time one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts a force that is equal in size and opposite in direction back on the first object. |
| Frequency of a wave | the number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time. |
| Speed | the rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate. |
| Acceleration | increase in the rate or speed of something. |
| Force | strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement. |
| Momentum | the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity. The impetus gained by a moving object. |