Dynamics Exam Review Flashcards

These flashcards cover key concepts related to dynamics, including definitions and fundamental principles necessary for exam preparation.

Dynamics

The branch of mechanics that deals with the motion of objects and the forces that cause this motion.

Weight

The force with which gravity acts on the mass of an object.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object; constant regardless of location.

Inertia

The tendency of a body to resist changes in its state of motion.

Force

Any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object.

Work

The product of a force applied to an object times the distance the object moves.

Power

The rate at which work is done, calculated as work divided by time.

Energy

The capacity of an object to do work, which cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.

Potential Energy (PE)

Energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration, capable of doing work when released.

Kinetic Energy (KE)

Energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated as ½ times mass times velocity squared.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and its velocity.

Conservation of Momentum

The principle stating that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces are acting on it.

Impulse

The change in momentum resulting from a force applied over a period of time.

Friction

The force that resists the relative motion of two surfaces in contact.

Coefficient of Friction (μ)

A measure of the amount of frictional force between two surfaces, calculated as the ratio of the frictional force to the normal force.

Gyroscopic Principle

The behavior of a gyroscope, which maintains its orientation due to the conservation of angular momentum.

Static Friction

Friction that acts between two solid objects that are not moving relative to each other.

Dynamic Friction

Friction that occurs between two surfaces that are moving relative to each other.

Efficiency

The ratio of useful work performed to the total energy or power consumed.

Mechanical Energy

The sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in a mechanical system.