CCEA Physics FLASHCARDS Unit 1 (without nuclear physics)

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering forces, motion, energy, and heat transfer.

Force

An interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. Measured in Newtons (N). Can be a push or a pull.

Friction

A force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact, converting kinetic energy into heat.

Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia)

An object will remain at rest or at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted upon by an external, unbalanced force.

Newton's Second Law

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, determining its resistance to acceleration. Measured in kilograms (kg).

Weight

The force exerted on an object due to gravity, calculated as mass times the acceleration due to gravity.

Efficiency

The ratio of useful energy output to total energy input, expressed as a percentage.

Work

The energy transferred when a force causes displacement. Calculated as force times distance moved in the direction of the force.

Power

The rate at which energy is transferred or work is done, measured in Watts (W).

Kinetic Energy (KE)

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion.

Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)

The energy possessed by an object due to its height in a gravitational field.

Density

Mass per unit volume, indicating how tightly packed the matter in a substance is.

Kinetic Theory

Explains the states of matter based on the movement and arrangement of particles; solids have fixed positions, liquids can move around each other, and gases move randomly.

Moment of a Force

The turning effect of a force around a pivot, calculated as force times perpendicular distance from the pivot.

Spring Constant (k)

A measure of a spring's stiffness; the force required to produce a unit extension.

Pressure

Force exerted per unit area, measured in Pascals (Pa).

Pascal (Pa)

The SI unit of pressure, equal to one Newton per square meter (1 N/m^2).

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy through a material by direct contact of particles, occurring in solids.

Convection

The transfer of heat energy in fluids (liquids and gases) by the movement of heated particles in convection currents.

Radiation

The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves, which can occur through a vacuum.

Average Speed

The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken, regardless of direction.

Vector

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, e.g., displacement, velocity, force.

Scalar

A quantity that has magnitude only, e.g., speed, distance, mass.