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Physics Unit 1 Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 | the belief that the Earth is at the center of the Universe. |
| Gravity | is a force that attracts a body towards the center of the earth or any other physical body having mass |
| 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 | 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. |
| Work | the amount of energy to move an object in the direction of the force applied. |
| Simple machine | a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force |
| Newton’s first law of motion | a law stating that an object at rest remains at rest and an 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 Equation | F=1/T |
| Speed Equation | Distance/Time |
| Acceleration Equation | Δ v Δ t |
| Force Equation | m × a |
| Momentum Equation | mv |
| Work Equation | F • d • cos Θ |
| Kinetic Energy Equation | ½ mv2 |
| Gravitational Potential Energy Equation | m⋅g⋅h |
| Second Law of Motion Equation | m×a |
| Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation | G m M r 2 |