Physics 100 Ultimate Final Study Guide

A high-yield vocabulary review covering wave mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and optics based on the Physics 100 final study guide.

Mechanical waves

Waves that require a medium to travel through.

Electromagnetic waves

Waves that do not require a medium and can travel through empty space.

Transverse waves

Waves characterized by crests and troughs.

Longitudinal waves

Waves characterized by compressions and rarefactions.

Amplitude

A measure of a wave's energy or loudness.

Frequency

The number of waves per unit time, which determines pitch; related to period by $f=1/T$.

Period

The time for one complete wave cycle; related to frequency by $T=1/f$.

Wavelength

The distance between identical points on consecutive waves; used in the formula $v=f\lambda$.

Ohm's Law

The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance defined by $V=IR$.

Electrical Power Formulas

Calculated using $P=IV$, $P=I^{2}R$, or $P=V^{2}/R$.

Series Circuit Resistance

The total resistance is the sum of individual resistances: $R_{T}=R_{1}+R_{2}+...$

Parallel Circuit Resistance

The reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of individual resistances: $1/R_{T}=1/R_{1}+1/R_{2}+...$

Coulomb's Law

The force between two charges defined by $F=kq_{1}q_{2}/r^{2}$.

Index of Refraction

The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a medium: $n=c/v$.

Mirror and Lens Equation

The relationship between focal length, object distance, and image distance: $1/f=1/d_{o}+1/d_{i}$.

Magnification

The ratio of image height to object height, expressed as $m=-d_{i}/d_{o}=h_{i}/h_{o}$.

Reflection

The behavior of a wave bouncing off a surface.

Refraction

The bending of a wave due to a change in speed when entering a different medium.

Diffraction

The bending of waves around obstacles.

Constructive interference

Interaction that results in larger waves.

Destructive interference

Interaction that results in smaller waves.

Sound

A mechanical and longitudinal wave that cannot travel in a vacuum.

Human Hearing Range

The audible frequency range for humans spanning $20$ to $20,000\,Hz$.

Resonance

An effect that occurs when an object is forced to vibrate at its natural frequency.

Conduction

The process of charging or transferring electrons through touch.

Induction

The process of charging or transferring effects without physical touch.

Conductors

Materials that allow the flow of electrons.

Insulators

Materials that resist the flow of electrons.

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure current, specifically connected in series.

Voltmeter

An instrument used to measure voltage, specifically connected in parallel.

Right-hand rule

A mnemonic where the thumb represents current and curled fingers represent the magnetic field.

Real images

Images that are inverted and can be projected onto a surface.

Virtual images

Images that are upright and cannot be projected; typical of plane mirrors.

Refraction (Slower Medium)

Light entering a slower medium bends toward the normal.

Refraction (Faster Medium)

Light entering a faster medium bends away from the normal.