Ap Physics 1 Vocab

Absolute Pressure

the pressure of having no matter inside a space, or a perfect vacuum.

Acceleration

the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time.

Archimedes' Principle

A body at rest in a fluid is acted upon by a force pushing upward called the buoyant force, which is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces.

Bernoulli's Principle

an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy.

Buoyancy

the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.

Centripetal Force

a net force that acts on an object to keep it moving along a circular path.

Conservation

the principle by which the total value of a physical quantity or parameter (such as energy, mass, linear or angular momentum) remains constant in a system which is not subject to external influence.

Derive

base a concept on a logical extension or modification of (another concept).

Displacement

If an object moves relative to its reference frame, then the object’s position changes. This change in position is displacement.

Distance

measures the length between objects or points without regard for direction.

Elastic

capable of resuming its normal shape after being stretched or compressed.

Equilibrium

a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Field

a region in which a particular physical quantity has a value at every point.

Force

an interaction that causes an object to change its velocity or direction.

Freefall

the motion of an object under the influence of gravitational force only.

Friction

the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.

Gauge Pressure

the pressure relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure.

Impulse

the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a period of time.

Inelastic

not able to return to its original shape after deformation.

Inertia

the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

Instantaneous

occurring at a specific moment in time.

Justify

provide valid reasons or evidence to support a conclusion or action.

Kinetic Energy

the energy an object possesses due to its motion.

Linear

relating to a straight line; having a constant rate of change.

Magnitude

the size or extent of a quantity, often measured in numerical terms.

Mechanical Energy

the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in a system.

Net Force

the overall force acting on an object after all the forces are combined.

Normal

the perpendicular force exerted by a surface against an object in contact with it.

Oscillation

the repeated back-and-forth movement of an object around a central point.

Photogate

a device that uses light to detect the presence or absence of an object.

Potential Energy

the stored energy of an object due to its position or configuration.

Projectile Motion

the motion of an object that is thrown into the air and is subject to gravitational force.

Resultant

the vector sum of two or more vectors.

Scalar

a quantity that has magnitude but no direction.

Sketch

a rough or unfinished drawing that represents the main features of an object or scene.

Speed

the distance traveled per unit of time, regardless of direction.

System

a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole.

Tangent

a straight line that touches a curve at a single point without crossing it.

Tension

the force exerted by a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight.

Terminal Velocity

the constant speed reached by an object when the force of gravity is balanced by the drag force.

Torque

a measure of the rotational force applied to an object.

Vector

a quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Velocity

the speed of an object in a specific direction.

Weight

the force exerted on an object due to gravity.

Work

the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement.