Term | Definition |
Momentum | Quantity defined as the product of the mass and velocity an object. P=mv |
Impulse | The product of force and time over which a force acts |
Impulse-Momentum Theorem | F=(change in momentum)/(change in time) |
Conservation of Momentum | The total momentum of all objects interacting with one another remains constant regardless of the nature of the forces between the objects. |
Elastic Collision | A collision in which two objects the total momentum and KE are conserved. |
Inelastic Collision | A collision in which two objects stick together completely after colliding |
Rotational Motion | Movement in a circle or spinning |
Radians | Angle formed when the arc length is equal to the radius of a circle |
Angular Displacement | Change in angle measurement |
Angular Speed | Rate at which an object moves through an angle. |
Angular Acceleration | Rate of change in angular speed. |
Tangential Acceleration | The linear acceleration of a particle at any point on the curved path. |
Centripetal Acceleration | Acceleration towards the center of a circle. |
Centripetal Force | Net force acting towards the center of a circle keeping an object moving in a circular path |
Centrifugal Force | Imaginary outward force felt by observers moving in a circular path. |
Gravitational Force | A centripetal force that keeps objects in orbit. |
Escape Speed | Speed needed to escape the force of gravity. |
Torque | A quantity that measures the ability of a force to rotate an object about some axis. |
Lever Arm | r(sin theta) or d(sin theta) |
Center of Mass | Point at which the mass of a body can be considered to be concentrated when analyzing transitional motion. |
Moment of Inertia | Tendency of an object to resist a change in rotational motion. |
Rotational Equilibrium | An object with no net torques acting upon it |
Newton’s 2nd Law for Rotational Motion | The relationship between the net external torque and the angular acceleration. |
Angular Momentum | The quantity of rotation of a body, which is the product of its moment of inertia and its angular velocity. |
Rotational Kinetic Energy | The final angular velocity divided by the time and the average angular velocity is equal to half the final angular velocity. |
Fluid | A non-solid state of matter in which the atoms or molecules are free to flow. |
Mass Density | Concentration of matter in an object. |
Buoyant Force | Upward force exerted by a fluid on an object that is immersed. |
Archimedes’ Principle | The upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces . |
Pressure | Magnitude of the force on a surface per unit area. |
Barometer | Device used to measure atmosphere pressure. |
Pascals | Unit of pressure. |
Pascal’s principle | Pressure applied to a fluid in a closed container is transmitted equally to every point of the fluid and the walls of the container. |
Ideal Fluid | Fluid with no internal friction. |
Venturi effect, | Speed of fluid increases when cross sectional area decreases. |
Bernoulli’s principle, | The pressure in a fluid decreases as the velocity of the fluid decreases. |
Ideal gas law | (P1V1)/T1=(P2V2)/T2 |
Temperature | Measure of the average KE in an object. |
Internal Energy | The energy of a substance due to both the random motion of its particles and to the potential energy that results from the distances between the particles. |
Thermal Equilibrium | The state at which 2 bodies in physical contact with one another have identical temperatures. |
Thermal Expansion | In general, increase the temperature of a substance, increases its volume. |
Heat | Energy transferred between objects because of a difference of temperatures. |
Specific heat capacity | The quantity of heat required to raise a unit mass of homogeneous material 1K or 1 degree Celsius |
Calorimetry | An experimental procedure used to measure the energy transferred from one substance to another as heat |
Latent Heat | The energy per unit mass that is transferred during a phase change of a substance. |
Phase Change | Physical change in substance from one state of matter to another at a constant temperature and pressure. |
Latent heat of fusion | Energy needed to melt 1 Kg. |
Latent heat of vaporization | Energy needed to boil 1 Kg. |
Thermal Conduction | Transfer heat through direct contact. |
Thermal Convection | Transfer of heat that involves bulk movement of matter. |
Radiation | Transfer through electromagnetic waves. |
Simple harmonic motion | Vibration about an equilibrium position in which a restoring force is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium. |
Hooke's Law | The restoring force of a spring depends on the stiffness of the spring and the displacement from the spring's equilibrium point. |
Spring Constant | The stiffness of the spring. |
Amplitude | Maximum displacement from equilibrium. |
Period | The time it take for a complete cycle to occur. |
Frequency | The number of cycles or vibrations per unit of time. |
Waves | Undulation or disturbance that transfers energy. |
Medium | Physical environment through which a disturbance can travel. |
Mechanical Wave | A wave that requires a medium to travel. |
Pulse Wave | A wave that consist of a single pulse. |
Periodic Wave | Wave formed by the periodic motion of a wave source. |
Transverse Wave | Wave whose particles vibrate perpendicularly to the direction they travel. |
Longitudinal Wave | Wave whose particles vibrate parallel to the direction they travel. |
Crest | Highest point above the equilibrium |
Trough | Lowest point below equilibrium. |
Wave Length | Distance between to adjacent points. |
Compression | Region which the density and pressure on a longitudinal wave is the least |
Rarefaction | Region which the density and pressure on a longitudinal wave is the least |