Studied by 9 people
Kinetic Energy
The energy of motion, calculated by the formula KE = 1/2 mv² where m is mass and v is speed.
Work
The amount of mechanical energy transferred to or from a system, calculated by the equation W = Fd cos(θ), where F is the force, d is the displacement, and θ is the angle between them.
Mechanical Energy
The sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in a system.
Potential Energy
Energy stored in a system due to the positions of its objects, commonly gravitational potential energy given by PE = mgh.
Conservative Force
A force where the work done is independent of the path taken, depending only on the initial and final states.
Nonconservative Force
A force that does work dependent on the path taken—examples include friction and air resistance.
Power
The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, calculated by P = W/t, where W is work and t is time.
Work-Energy Principle
The principle stating that the net work done by the forces on an object equals the change in its kinetic energy.
Gravitational Potential Energy
Energy based on an object's height in a gravitational field, calculated by PE = mgh.
Elastic Potential Energy
Energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing, calculated by PE_e = 1/2 kx².
Frame of Reference
A coordinate system used to measure the position, orientation, and other properties of an object.
Instantaneous Power
Power calculated at a specific instant, given by the formula P = Fv cos(θ) where F is the force and v is the velocity.
Change in Mechanical Energy
The difference in mechanical energy between two states of a system, equal to the work done on the system.
Net Work
The total work done on an object, taking into account all forces acting on it.
Energy Conservation
The principle that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time.
Joule
The unit of work or energy in the SI system, equal to the work done when a force of one newton displaces an object one meter.
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
A law stating that every mass attracts every other mass with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
Energy Transformation
The process of changing energy from one form to another, such as potential energy converting to kinetic energy.
Thermal Energy
The total kinetic energy of all particles in a substance, often associated with heat.
Friction
A nonconservative force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.
Kinetic Friction
The friction that acts on moving objects, opposing their motion.
Static Friction
The frictional force that prevents two surfaces from sliding past each other when at rest.
Mechanical Advantage
The factor by which a machine multiplies the force put into it, making work easier.
Mechanical Efficiency
The ratio of useful work output to the total work input, expressed as a percentage.
Work Rate
The amount of work done per unit of time, often measured in watts.
Elastic Limit
The maximum extent to which a material can be deformed elastically without permanent deformation.
Impulse
The change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over time.
Momentum
The product of an object's mass and its velocity, a vector quantity.
Simple Machine
A device that can change the direction or magnitude of a force, examples include levers, pulleys, and inclined planes.
Newton's First Law of Motion
A law stating that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Newton's Second Law of Motion
A law that states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
Newton's Third Law of Motion
A law that states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Centripetal Force
A force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle.
Mechanical Work
Work done when a force causes displacement in the direction of the force.
Mechanical Energy Conservation
The principle that in the absence of nonconservative forces, the total mechanical energy of a system remains constant.
Power Plant Efficiency
A measure of how well a power plant converts energy input into electrical power output.
Renewable Energy
Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydro.
Nonrenewable Energy
Energy from sources that are finite and will eventually deplete, such as fossil fuels.
Energy Audit
An assessment that evaluates energy use and identifies opportunities for energy savings.
Work Done by a Variable Force
Work calculated by the integral of force over the distance the object moves.
Conservation of Momentum
The principle that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces are acting on it.
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
A theorem stating that the impulse applied to an object equals the change in its momentum.
Action-Reaction Forces
For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.
Mechanical Oscillation
The repeated back-and-forth movement of an object, such as a pendulum.
Damping
The process of energy dissipation in oscillatory systems, leading to a decrease in amplitude.
Center of Mass
The point in an object where the mass is evenly distributed and can be considered to act.
Rotational Energy
The kinetic energy associated with the rotation of an object, calculated by KE_r = 1/2 Iω² where I is the moment of inertia and ω is the angular velocity.
Angular Momentum
The rotational equivalent of linear momentum, dependent on the object's moment of inertia and angular velocity.
Biomass Energy
Energy derived from organic materials, such as plants and waste.
Thermodynamics
The branch of physics that deals with heat, work, and energy transformations.
Heat Transfer
The movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another.
Specific Heat Capacity
The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.
Latent Heat
The heat absorbed or released during a phase change of a substance without changing its temperature.
Entropy
A measure of the disorder or randomness in a system, often associated with the second law of thermodynamics.
Thermal Equilibrium
The state in which two bodies in contact no longer transfer heat, resulting in equal temperatures.
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