General Physics

Flashcards for Quarter 1

Physica

The latin of Physics

Physics

The fundamental science governing matter and energy

Mathematics

The language of Physics

Mechanics

Motion of objects that are large relative to atoms and move at speeds much slower than light

Thermodynamics

Heat, work, temperature, and statistical behavior of systems with large numbers of particles

Electromagnetism

Electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic fields

Optics

Behavior of light and its interaction with materials

Acoustics & Waves

Properties of sound and wave rpropagation

Measurement

The process of associating numbers with physical quantities and phenomena

Length

Quantifying spatial dimensions

Time

Quantifying duration

Mass

Quantifying matter

Metric / SI System

Includes meter-kilogram-seconds and centimeter-gram-seconds for length, mass, and time

English / FPS System

Also known as the British system

English / FPS System

Uses the fact for length, pound for mass, and second for time

1 Hour

60 mins | 3600 secs

1 Meter

3.28 ft

1 feet

12 inches

1 yard

3 ft

1 inch

2.54 cm

1 mile

1.6 km

1 kg

1000 g | 2.205 lbs

The Syntax of Scale m x 10*n

Where “1 ≤ m < 10".”

Left

n is positive when moving decimal left

Right

n is negative when moving decimal right

Macro Scale

Age of the Earth

Micro Scale

One A.M.U. (Atomic Mass Unit)

Rule 1

All non-zero numbers are significant

Rule 2

Zeros between two non-zero digits are significant

Rule 3

Leading zeros are not significant

Rule 4

Trailing zeros to the right of a decimal point are significant

Rule 5

Trailing zeros in a whole number with a decimal shown are significant

Rule 6

Trailing zeros in a whole number without a decimal are not significant

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the correct value

Precision

How close a repeated measurement are to each other, even if they are not correct

Four situations of Geometry of Error

High Accuracy, High Precision | Low Accuracy, High Precision | High Accuracy, Low Precision | Low Accuracy, Low Precision

High Accuracy, High Precision

The shots are grouped closely together at the center of the target (Both measurements are correct and consistent)

Low Accuracy, High Precision

The shots are grouped closely, but far from the target (Both measurements are consistent but wrong because they’re far from the true value)

High Accuracy, Low Precision

The shots are spread out around the corner (Both measurements are averagely close to the true value, but are not consistent)

Low Accuracy, Low Precision

The shots are scattered all over the target and are far from the center (Both measurements are neither correct nor consistent)

Motion in One Dimension

The foundational concepts of kinematics, classical mechanics, and the arithmetic of movement

Kinematics

The language of Motion

Physics

The over aching study of the universe

Classical Mechanics

The branch involving the motion of objects and the relationships between motion and physical concepts

Kinematics

The pure description of motion itself (independent of the forces that cause it)

Kinematics

We care about the description of motion, not the cause

Position

Defined by a frame of reference-typically a one-dimensional x- or y-axis (e.g. an object is moving only if its position relative to its fixed point is changing)

The Reality Check

We’re moving about 100,000 km/h relative to the sun

Scalars

Quantities describes by magnitude

Vectors

Quantities described by magnitude + direction

Scalars

Measures “how much” direction is irrelevant

Vectors

Measures “how much” and “which way” | Spatial awareness is required

Distance

The total length of the path actually traveled by an object

Displacement

The shortest straight-line path between the initial and final position of an object

Change in Position (Δx)

The resulting displacement. Positive values indicate movement to the right; negative values to the left

Displacement Formula

Δx = Xf - Xi

Distance Formula

d = d1 + d2 + dn …

Galileo

Credited as the first to measure speed by formally dividing distance covered by the time elapsed

Average Speed

The total distance traveled divided by the total time elapsed

Speed Formula

Speed = distance/time

Velocity

This is directed speed

Average Velocity Formula

Δx/Δt = (Xf - Xi)/(Tf - Ti)

Average Velocity

The overall rate at which displacement occurs over a define time interval (the total trip)

Instantaneous Velocity

The velocity of an object at one exact, isolated moment in time (what the speedometer currently reads)

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity over time

Vector Quantity

The nature of Acceleration

Uniformly Accelerated Motion (UAM)

The terminology of Acceleration

Speed Up

Accelerate in the direction of velocity

Slow Down

Accelerate against velocity (deceleration)

Change Direction

Accelerate at an angle to velocity

Acceleration Formula

a = Vf - Vi/t

Uniform Accelerated Motion (UAM) & Kinematic Equations

A problem solver’s blueprint for horizontal and vertical dynamics

Equation 1 of Horizontal Equations

Vf = Vi - at

Equation 2 of Horizontal Equations

Δx = Vit + 1/2at*2

Equation 3 of Horizontal Equations

Vf*2 = Vi*2 + 2aΔx

g = -9.8 m/s*2

the ultimate constant

Equation 1 of Vertical Equations

Vfy = Viy + gt

Equation 2 of Vertical Equations

Δy = Viyt + 1/2gt*2

Equation 3 of Vertical Equations

Vfy*2 = Viy*2 + 2gΔy