Physics Review: Kinematics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Nuclear Physics

Flashcards testing formulas, definitions, and principles across Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Nuclear Physics based on lecture notes.

What is the formula and unit for Speed ($s$)?

Formula: $s = \frac{d}{t}$; Unit: $\text{m/s}$ or $\text{ms}^{-1}$

What is the formula and unit for Velocity ($v$)?

Formula: $v = \frac{x}{t}$; Unit: $\text{m/s}$ or $\text{ms}^{-1}$

What are the formulas and units for Acceleration ($a$)?

Formulas: $a = \frac{\Delta v}{t}$, $a = \frac{v - u}{t}$, and $a = \frac{F}{m}$; Units: $\text{m/s}^2$ or $\text{ms}^{-2}$

How is displacement determined from a velocity-time ($v\text{-}t$) graph?

Displacement is equal to the area of the shape under the required portion of the given $v\text{-}t$ graph.

What is the formula for displacement under a velocity-time graph if the shape is a trapezium?

$$\text{Displacement} = \frac{1}{2}(a + b) \times h$$

What is Newton's 1st Law (Law of Inertia)?

An object at rest remains at rest, or an object in motion remains in motion at constant velocity, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

What is Newton's 2nd Law?

Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied to an object and inversely proportional to its mass ($F = ma$ or $a = \frac{F}{m}$).

What is Newton's 3rd Law?

For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

What is the formula and units for Momentum ($p$)?

Formula: $p = mv$; Units: $\text{kg\,m/s}$ or $\text{Ns}$

What are the formulas for Impulse ($\Delta p$)?

$\Delta p = Ft$ and $Ft = m\Delta v$

What does the Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum state?

The total momentum in a closed system is the same before and after collision ($(mv)_{\text{before}} = (mv)_{\text{after}}$).

What is the formula and units for Weight ($w$)?

Formula: $w = mg$; Units: $\text{N}$ or $\text{kg\,ms}^{-2}$

What is the formula and units for Density ($\rho$)?

Formula: $\rho = \frac{m}{V}$; Units: $\text{kg/m}^3$ or $\text{g/cm}^3$

What is the formula and unit for Relative density ($\text{RD}$)?

Formula: $\text{RD}(\text{substance}) = \frac{\rho(\text{substance})}{\rho(\text{reference})}$; Unit: No unit.

How is the gradient or slope of a graph calculated?

Formula: $\frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$; Unit: $\frac{y\text{-unit}}{x\text{-unit}}$

What is Archimedes' Principle?

The weight of fluid displaced by an immersed object is equal to the fluid's buoyant force.

What is the formula and unit for Moment of a force ($M$)?

Formula: $M = Fd$; Unit: $\text{Nm}$

What is the Principle of Moments?

For a system in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise and anticlockwise moments about the same point are equal ($F_1 D_1 = F_2 D_2$).

What is Hooke's Law?

The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied to it until it reaches its limit of proportionality ($F = kx$, where $F = \text{Force}$, $k = \text{spring constant}$, and $x = \text{extension}$).

What is the formula and units for Pressure against a surface ($P$)?

Formula: $P = \frac{F}{A}$; Units: $\text{Pa}$ or $\text{N/m}^2$

What is the formula and units for Pressure in fluid ($P$)?

Formula: $P = \rho hg$; Units: $\text{Pa}$ or $\text{N/m}^2$

What is Pascal's Law?

The pressure exerted at a given point in an incompressible fluid is distributed equally through all points in the fluid.

What is Boyle's Law?

The volume of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure, given that temperature is constant ($P_1 V_1 = P_2 V_2$ or $PV = k$).

What is Charles' Law?

The volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature, given that pressure is constant (\frac{V_1}{T_1} = \frac{V_2}{T_2} or \frac{V}{T} = k).

What is the Pressure Law?

The temperature of a gas is directly proportional to its pressure, given that volume is constant (\frac{P_1}{T_1} = \frac{P_2}{T_2} or \frac{P}{T} = k).

What is the Complete Gas Equation?

$\frac{P_1 V_1}{T_1} = \frac{P_2 V_2}{T_2}$ (used if $P$, $V$, or $T$ aren't constant).

What is the formula and units for Work done ($W$)?

Formula: $W = F \times d$; Units: $\text{J}$ or $\text{Nm}$

What are the formulas and units for Power ($P$)?

Formulas: $P = \frac{\text{PE}}{t}$ or $P = \frac{W}{t}$; Units: $\text{W}$ or $\text{J/s}$

What is the formula and unit for Kinetic Energy ($\text{KE}$)?

Formula: $\text{KE} = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$; Unit: $\text{J}$

What is the formula and unit for Gravitational Potential Energy ($\Delta\text{GPE}$)?

Formula: $\Delta\text{GPE} = mg\Delta h$; Unit: $\text{J}$

What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can only be converted into different forms.

How is Efficiency calculated?

$\text{Efficiency} = \frac{\text{Useful energy (Output)}}{\text{Total energy (Input)}}$ expressed in $\%$.

What is the formula for velocity during $\text{GPE}$ to $\text{KE}$ conversion?

$$v = \sqrt{2gh}$$

What is Specific Heat Capacity ($c$), its formula, and units?

The amount of heat $1\,\text{kg}$ of a substance required to change its temperature by $1\,\text{K}$. Formula: $E = mc\Delta\theta$; Units: $\text{J/kg\,K}$ or $\text{J\,kg}^{-1}\,\text{K}^{-1}$

What is Heat Capacity ($C$), its formula, and unit?

Heat Capacity is $C = mc$; Unit: $\text{J/K}$

What is Specific Latent Heat of Fusion ($L_f$), its formula, and units?

The amount of heat $1\,\text{kg}$ of a substance required to convert it from a solid to liquid without changing its temperature. Formula: $E = mL_f$; Units: $\text{J/kg}$ or $\text{J\,kg}^{-1}$

What is Specific Latent Heat of Vaporization ($L_v$), its formula, and units?

The amount of heat $1\,\text{kg}$ of a substance required to convert it from a liquid to gas without changing its temperature. Formula: $E = mL_v$; Units: $\text{J/kg}$ or $\text{J\,kg}^{-1}$

What is the Kinetic Theory of Matter?

Matter is made up of particles in random motion. Adding energy makes particles move farther apart.

What is Atomic number ($Z$)?

The number of protons in an atom.

What is Nucleon number ($A$)?

The total number of protons and neutrons ($A = Z + N$).

When is nuclear stability achieved?

Nuclear stability occurs when $N : Z = 1:1$ (the same number of protons and neutrons).

How are Alpha and Beta radiation particles represented?

Alpha = $_2\text{He}$ and Beta = $_{-1}^0\text{e}$

What is an Isotope?

An element with the same atomic number as another but a different nucleon number.

What is Half-Life ($t_{1/2}$)?

The time it takes for half of a substance to radioactively decay.

What is the formula for energy gained in a nuclear reaction?

$\Delta E = \Delta m c^2$ (Einstein's formula, where $m = \text{mass}$ and $c = \text{speed of light}$).