Physical Science Final

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)