Physics Quarterly Vocabulary

vector

a quantity that has two characteristics: magnitude and direction

applied

a force that is applied to one object by another by touching it

net force

the combination of all forces acting on an object at one time

velocity

speed with a direction

kinetic

energy in motion

transformation

the conversion of energy from one form to another

energy

the ability to do work or cause change

friction

the force that resists the motion of two surfaces that are touching

transfer

the movement of energy from one object/location to another

magnetism

the type of force that can attract and repel objects with a magnetic material in them

gravity

an attractive force that exists between all objects and is determined by mass and distance

Newton’s Third Law

for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Newton’s Second Law

an object’s acceleration is determined by its mass and the force applied to it

Newton’s First Law

an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force

acceleration

any change in velocity (speeding up, slowing down, changing direction)

inertia

the tendency of an object to resist changes to its motion

momentum

a measure of how difficult it is to stop a moving object, determined by mass and velocity

scalar

a quantity that has only one characteristic - magnitude

potential

stored energy

normal

the force that opposes gravity and holds objects up

speed

the rate at which distance changes compared to time

Law of Conservation of Energy

energy can never be created nor destroyed - only transferred and transformed

Law of Conservation of Momentum

in the absence of outside forces, momentum is conserved in a collision (the momentum before the collision = the momentum after the collision)

Gravitational Potential Energy

energy an object or substance has because of its position - determined by mass and height

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy that is stored in objects that are stretched or compressed by the application of a force

Nuclear Energy

Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom; energy is released when nuclei join together or split apart

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the chemical bonds between atoms; energy is released when chemical reactions occur

Examples: energy stored in food, gasoline, coal, wood, and batteries

Electric Energy

Energy that an electric current carries through the movement of electrons

Sound Energy

The movement of energy through a substance, caused by vibrations and transmitted by waves; cannot travel through a vacuum

Radiant Energy

Energy that electromagnetic waves (light waves, microwaves, radio waves, etc.) carry; can travel through a vacuum; also known as light energy

Thermal Energy

Energy due to the motion of the atoms and molecules that make up a substance; also known as heat

Mechanical Energy

The total energy of an object or group of objects determined by its position and motion; an object’s combined potential and kinetic energy