Physics inquisition flashcards-AP physics 2

Flashcards for AP Physics 2 review, covering Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, Waves/Sound, Light, and Modern Physics.

Thermodynamics

the branch of physics that studies the relationships between heat, work, temperature, and energy.

Temperature

Heat

The transfer of thermal energy between objects or systems due to a temperature difference.

Kelvin

The SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature.

Fahrenheit

A temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees.

Celsius

A temperature scale where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees.

Joule

The SI unit of energy, equal to the work done by a force of one newton when its point of application moves one meter in the direction of the force.

Radiation

The emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium.

Conduction

The process by which heat or electricity is directly transmitted through a substance when there is a difference of temperature or electrical potential between adjoining regions, without movement of the material.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid (liquid or gas) between areas of different temperature.

Thermal Conductivity

The measure of a material's ability to conduct heat.

Heat Flow

The rate at which thermal energy is transferred.

Internal Energy

The total energy contained within a thermodynamic system.

Phase Change

The transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase or state of matter to another.

Latent Heat

The heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapor, or a liquid into a vapor, without change of temperature.

Latent Heat of Fusion

The heat required to change a substance from the solid to the liquid phase at its melting point.

Condensation

The change of water from its gaseous form (water vapor) into liquid water.

Vaporization

The change of a substance from a liquid to a gaseous state.

Boiling Point

The temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor.

Melting Point

The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid.

Liquid Water Turns to Ice

The phase transition where liquid water freezes and turns into solid ice.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Heat Pump

A device that transfers heat from a cold reservoir to a hot reservoir.

Thermal Expansion

The tendency of matter to change in volume in response to changes in temperature.

Heat Engine

A device that converts thermal energy into mechanical work.

PV Diagram

A graph used to visualize the changes in pressure and volume in a thermodynamic process.

Adiabatic Process

A thermodynamic process in which no heat is transferred to or from the system.

Isothermal Process

A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant temperature.

Isobaric Process

A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant pressure.

Isovolumetric (Isochoric) Process

A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant volume.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

If two thermodynamic systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.

Entropy

A measure of the disorder or randomness of a system.

Charge

A fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged matter.

Coulombs

The SI unit of electric charge.

Ampere

The SI unit of electric current.

Volt

The SI unit of electric potential difference.

Ohm

The SI unit of electrical resistance.

Watt

The SI unit of power.

Current

The rate of flow of electric charge.

Charging by Conduction

The process of charging an object by touching it with a charged object.

Charging by Induction

The process of charging an object without direct contact.

Electrostatics

The study of stationary electric charges.

Electrostatic Equilibrium

A condition where there is no net flow of charge within a system.

Faraday's Ice Pail Experiment

Demonstrates that charge resides on the exterior surface of a conductor.

Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment

Determined the charge of a single electron.

Insulator

A material that does not easily allow the flow of electric charge.

Conductor

A material that allows electric charge to flow easily.

Direct Current

Electric current that flows in one direction only.

Alternating Current

Electric current that reverses direction periodically.

Circuit

A closed path that allows electric current to flow.

Circuit Diagram

A visual representation of an electrical circuit.

Resistor

An electrical component that opposes the flow of current.

Capacitor

An electrical component used to store electrical energy.

Battery

A device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy.

Voltage Source

A device that provides a constant voltage in a circuit.

Emf

Electromotive force; the voltage provided by a battery or voltage source.

Coulomb's Law

Describes the electrostatic force between two charged objects.

Ohm's Law

States that voltage is equal to current times resistance (V = IR).

Kirchoff's Loop Rule

The sum of the voltage drops around any closed loop in a circuit is zero.

Series Circuit

A circuit in which components are connected one after another along a single path.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit in which components are connected along multiple paths.

Electric Potential Difference

The difference in electric potential between two points.

Electric Potential Energy

The energy a charged object possesses due to its location in an electric field.

Electric Field

A region around a charged object in which a force would be exerted on other charged objects.

Resistors in Series

Resistors connected in a single path, with the same current flowing through each.

Resistors in Parallel

Resistors connected along multiple paths, with the voltage drop being the same across each.

Capacitors in Series

Capacitors connected in a single path, with the same charge being stored in each.

Capacitors in Parallel

Capacitors connected along multiple paths, with the voltage drop being the same across each.

Electric Field Lines

Lines used to visualize the strength and direction of an electric field.

Electric Flux

A measure of the electric field passing through a given area.

Van de Graaff Generator

An electrostatic generator which uses a moving belt to accumulate electric charge on a hollow metal globe.

Gauss's Law

Relates the electric flux through a closed surface to the enclosed charge.

Electron Volts

A unit of energy equal to the work done on an electron in accelerating it through a potential difference of one volt.

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

The amount of energy stored in a capacitor, equal to 1/2 * C * V^2.

Dielectric

An insulating material placed between the plates of a capacitor to increase its capacitance.

Open Circuit

A circuit in which the path is broken, preventing current from flowing.

Closed Circuit

A complete circuit through which current can flow.

Short Circuit

A low-resistance connection between two points in a circuit, often causing excessive current flow.

Ammeter

A device used to measure electric current.

Voltmeter

A device used to measure electric potential difference (voltage).

Resistivity

A measure of a material's resistance to the flow of electric current.

Power

The rate at which energy is transferred or used.

Brightness of a Lightbulb

Determined by the power dissipated by the lightbulb.

Neodymium Magnet

A type of permanent magnet made from an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron.

Magnetic Poles

The points on a magnet where the magnetic field is strongest (North and South).

Electromagnet

A type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by an electric current.

Magnetic Field

A region around a magnet or current-carrying wire in which a magnetic force is exerted.

Tesla

The SI unit of magnetic field strength.

Induced Magnetism

The process by which a material becomes magnetized due to the presence of an external magnetic field.

Right Hand Rule

A mnemonic used to determine the direction of the force on a charge moving in a magnetic field.

Magnetic Force

The force exerted on a moving charge or current-carrying wire in a magnetic field.

Induced Current

A current that is generated due to a changing magnetic field.

Magnetic Flux

A measure of the amount of magnetic field passing through a given area.

Electric Motor

A device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using magnetic forces.

Electric Speaker

A device that converts electrical signals into sound waves using magnetic forces.

Generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy using magnetic induction.

Retarding Force

A force that opposes motion.