Acceleration
Vector showing how a speed changes
Average Speed
total distance divided by total time
Constant Speed
Speed that does not change
Deceleration
A decrease in speed
Displacement
Measure length from point A to B with direction
distance
Measurement of how far you traveled
Frame of Reference
System of objects not moving
Instantaneous Speed
the speed of an object at one instant of time
Motion
An object's change in position relative to a reference point.
Speed
How fast you move; not a vector
Velocity
Speed in a given direction
Vector
a quantity that has both magnitude and direction
Air Resistance
force that opposes the motion of objects that move through the air
Balanced Force
two forces acting in opposite directions on an object, and equal in size
Electric Force
The force between charged objects
Electromagnetic Force
a force associated with charged particles, which has two aspects, electric force and magnetic force
Fluid Friction
friction that occurs as an object moves through a fluid
Force
A push or pull exerted on an object
Friction
A force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact
Gravitational Force
the force of attraction between all masses in the universe
Kinetic Friction
Energy of Motion
Magnetic Force
the attraction or repulsion between magnetic poles
Nuclear Force
an attractive force that acts between all nuclear particles that are extremely close together, such as protons and neutrons in a nucleus
Projectile Motion
the curved path that an object follows when thrown, launched, or otherwise projected near the surface of Earth
Rolling Friction
friction that occurs when an object rolls over a surface
Sliding Friction
friction that occurs when one solid surface slides over another
Static Friction
Friction that acts on objects that are not moving
Terminal Velocity
the greatest velocity a falling object reaches
Unbalanced Force
Forces that produce a nonzero net force, which changes an object's motion
Universal Force
immaterial creation by universal intelligence for the purpose of uniting intelligence & matter
Action Force
the initial push or pull of one object on another object
First Law of Motion
a body remains at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force
Inertia
the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion
Mass
the amount of matter in an object
Momentum
The product of an object's mass and velocity
Reaction Force
force acting in the opposite direction
Second Law of Motion
Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass.
Third Law of Motion
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
Weight
A measure of the force of gravity on an object
Compound Machine
a machine made of more than one simple machine
Fulcrum
The fixed point around which a lever pivots
Inclined Plane
a slanted surface along which a force moves an object to a different elevation
Lever
A rigid bar that is free to move around a fixed point
Machine
A device that makes work easier
Mechanical Advantage
Ratio of the output force exerted by a machine to the input force applied to the machine.
Power
the rate at which work is done
Pulley
A simple machine that consists of a rope that fits into a groove in a wheel
Screw
An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder
Simple Machine
a machine that does work with only one movement of the machine
Wedge
V-shaped object with two inclined planes sloped toward each other
Wheel and Axle
Two different sized circular objects that are attached together and turn as one.
Work
A result of a force moving an object a certain distance.
Fixed Pulley
A wheel attached in a fixed location
Movable Pulley
Attached to a load
Pulley System
A combination of fixed and movable pulleys
Block and Tackle
(Type of pulley system) Fixed pulley and a movable pulley are used together
Chemical Energy
Energy stored in chemical bonds
Electrical Energy
The energy of electric charges
Electromagnetic Energy
A form of energy that travels through space in the form of waves
Energy
the ability to do work
Kinetic Energy
the energy an object has due to its motion
Law of Conservation of Energy
the law that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be changed from one form to another
Mechanical Energy
The amount of work an object can do because of the object's kinetic and potential energies
Nuclear Energy
Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom
Potential Energy
stored energy
Thermal Energy
The total energy of all the particles of an object.
Absorption
the process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another.
Crest
Highest point of a wave
Electromagnetic Spectrum
the complete range of electromagnetic waves placed in order of increasing frequency
Gamma Ray
Electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies
Infrared Wave
an electromagnetic wave that has a wavelength shorter than a microwave but longer than visible light
Microwave
very short electromagnetic wave
Opaque
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
Polarization
A polarized light vibrates or oscillates in only one direction
Radio Waves
Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies
Reflection
The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass.
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another
Scattering
reflection of light in all directions
Translucent
allowing light to pass through, but blurring it so that images cannot be seen clearly
Transmit
to send something across places; to pass along
Transparent
Allowing light to pass through; easily recognized or understood; easily seen through or detected
Trough
Lowest point of a wave
Ultraviolet Light
Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with frequencies higher than those of visible light and lower than those of x-rays
Visible Light
Electromagnetic radiation that can be seen with the unaided eye
X-ray
A form of energy that travels in waves. X-rays have smaller wavelengths and therefore higher energy.
Wave
A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place
Wavelength
Horizontal distance between the crests or between the troughs of two adjacent waves
Pseudoscience
A fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence.
Law of Conservation of Momentum
The rule that in the absence of outside forces the total momentum of objects that interact does not change.
Aristotle
Said force is required to keep an object moving
Galileo
Said that without friction, an object would keep moving
Newton
Defined force and mass as well as the three Laws of Motion
6 Simple Machines
Lever, pulley, screw, wheel and axle, inclined plane, wedge
What is the Mechanical Advantage of A Pulley?
More ropes
What is the Mechanical Advantage of a Lever?
Longer input arm shorter output arm
What is the Mechanical Advantage of a Wedge?
Thinner wedge
What is the Mechanical Advantage of a Screw?
Closer threads
What is the Mechanical Advantage of a Wheel and Axle?
Big wheel, small axle
What is the Mechanical Advantage of a Inclined Plane?
Less steep
First Class Lever (example)
Fulcrum in the middle (see-saw)