AP Physics 1 - Kinematics and Dynamics Review

Key vocabulary and concepts for kinematics, dynamics, energy, momentum, rotation, oscillations, and fluids in AP Physics 1.

Vector

Has magnitude and direction.

Scalar

Has magnitude only.

Displacement

The straight-line distance between an object's initial and final points.

Average speed

The distance traveled over the time duration of that travel. It is a scalar.

Average velocity

The displacement divided by the time interval. It is a vector.

Instantaneous velocity

The velocity at a specific time.

Average acceleration

The change in velocity divided by the time interval. It is a vector.

Instantaneous acceleration

The acceleration at a specific time.

Uniformly Accelerated Motion (UAM)

Motion with constant acceleration.

Free fall motion

Motion under the influence of gravity with g ≈ 10 m/s².

Projectile motion

Two-dimensional motion near the surface of a planet where the only force acting on it is gravity.

Relative motion

The description of the motion of an object changes depending on the frame of reference of the person observing the motion.

Newton's First Law

An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net, external force.

Inertia

The tendency of an object to resist a change in state of motion.

Inertial reference frame

A reference frame with zero acceleration.

Newton's Second Law

Fnet = ma

Translational equilibrium

The net force on the object equals zero, meaning the object is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity.

Newton's Third Law

For every force object one exerts on object two, object two exerts an equal but opposite force on object one.

Gravitational force

The interaction between an object with mass and another object with mass.

Weight

The gravitational force exerted on a mass in a gravitational field.

Inertial mass

The measure of an object's inertia or a measure of its resistance to acceleration.

Gravitational mass

The mass used to determine the force of gravity, or weight, of an object.

Force of friction

A force that is always parallel to the surface, always opposes sliding motion, and is independent of the direction of the force applied.

Coefficient of friction

A ratio of the maximum force of friction and the force normal.

Kinetic friction

Friction when the two surfaces are sliding relative to one another.

Static friction

Friction when the two surfaces are not sliding relative to one another.

Universal Gravitation

The magnitude of the gravitational force between two objects.

Gravitational Constant

The constant G in the equation for the magnitude of the gravitational force.

Spring Force

Force is proportional to its displacement from equilibrium position.

Hooke's Law

The equation for the spring force.

Spring Constant

k is a measure of how much force it takes to compress or expand a spring per meter.

Tangential Velocity

The linear velocity of an object moving along a circular path.

Centripetal Acceleration

The acceleration is always directed inward toward the center of the circle.

Frequency

The number of revolutions completed by the object per second, symbol f.

Period

The time it takes the object to complete one circle symbol T.

Centripetal Force

The net force in the in direction or the "center seeking" force which causes the centripetal acceleration of the object in toward the center of the circle.

Translational Kinetic Energy

A moving object or system has translational kinetic energy.

Work

The amount of mechanical energy transferred into or out of a system.

Conservative force

The work done by a conservative force on a system is independent of the path of the object.

Nonconservative force

The work done by a nonconservative force on a system does depend on the path.

Potential Energy

The three types of mechanical energy are kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and elastic potential energy.

Power

The rate at which energy changes with respect to time.

Linear Momentum

The product of an object's mass and velocity.

Impulse

The change in momentum of an object or system.

Elastic Collision

A collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system before the collision is the same as the total kinetic energy after the collision.

Inelastic Collision

A collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system decreases during the collision.

Rotational Kinematics

Involves many of the linear variables: displacement, velocity, and acceleration, only we add the word angular to each of those variables.

Rigid Objects

Rigid objects maintain a constant shape as they rotate.

Rotational Inertia

Rotational Inertia, I, is a measure of how much a point particle, rigid object, or rigid system resists angular acceleration.

Torque

Torque, τ, is the ability of a force to cause an angular acceleration of an object.

Rotational Kinetic Energy

Energy due to an object's rotation.

Angular Momentum

A measure of an object's rotational motion.

Rolling

A rigid object with shape which is rolling without slipping.

Escape Velocity

Defined as speed necessary directed vertically upward from a planet.

Simple Harmonic Motion

Periodic motion which results from a restoring force acting on an object where that force is proportional to the displacement of the object from equilibrium or rest position.

Fluids

A substance which does not have a fixed shape, liquids and gasses are both fluids.

Pressure

The amount of force component perpendicular to the surface area.