Physical Quantities

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to physical quantities, vectors, and the fundamental concepts needed in physics.

Point Masses

An assumption that objects can be simplified to a single point in space containing the entire mass.

Scalars

Quantities that consist of a single number and a unit, such as mass and time.

Vectors

Quantities that have both a magnitude and a direction, represented with multiple components.

Dot Product

A multiplication of two vectors resulting in a scalar, calculated as the sum of the products of their components.

Cross Product

A product of two vectors resulting in a new vector that is perpendicular to the plane formed by the original vectors.

Newton's Second Law

States that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object times its acceleration.

Force Vector

A vector that represents a force, which can cause a change in motion.

Coordinates

Values that define a point in space, such as Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z).

Magnitude of a Vector

The length or size of a vector, calculated as the square root of the sum of the squares of its components.

Unit Conversion

The process of changing a measurement from one unit to another, ensuring dimensional consistency.