Planet Holloway Physics - Chapter 1 Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental science methods, measurement terms, physics definitions, and mathematical relationships from Chapter 1.

Systeme International d’Unites – SI units

Used worldwide by scientists who wish to share and collaborate results easily.

Scientific Theory

An explanation based on many observations, often used when it is too hard to conduct an actual single experiment or when events happened in the past.

Scientific Law

A rule regarding how nature works that allows predictions of what will happen and has been tested repeatedly without being disproven.

Precision

The ability to repeat results over and over without variance.

Accuracy

The degree to which the experimental or recorded value is close to the actual value, typically measuring the ability of the instrument used (e.g., $\pm 0.02$).

Independent variable

The factor that is changed in an experiment to determine its effect, which is generally controlled by the experimenter.

Dependent variable

The factor that changes due to changes in the independent variable, representing the recorded results of the experiment.

Linear relationship

A mathematical relationship between two variables described by the equation $y = mx + b$, which forms a straight line on a graph.

Nonlinear relationship

A mathematical relationship that does not appear as a straight line on a graph.

Quadratic relationship

A mathematical relationship described by the equation $y = ax^2 + bx + c$, which forms a parabola on a graph.

Inverse relationship

A mathematical relationship described by the equation $y = \frac{a}{x}$, which forms a hyperbola on a graph.

Dimensional Analysis

The method of converting from one unit of measure to another using a conversion factor based on equivalence, treating dimensions as algebraic quantities.

Cartesian Coordinate System

A system of breaking position into points along different axes, most commonly the $x$, $y$, and $z$ axes.

Order-of-magnitude

An approximate value based on the closest power of ten (e.g., $780\,\text{kg}$ is on the order of $10^3\,\text{kg}$).

Significant figures

The number of digits that determine the reliability of a measurement (e.g., $0.0030$ has two significant figures).

Quarks

Six varieties of elementary particles that make up protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Types of motion

Classifications of motion including linear, curved or circular, accelerated, rotational, and orbital.

Temperature

A physical quantity measured in Kelvin ($K$) or degrees Celsius ($^\circ\text{C}$).