GENERAL SCIENCE - PHYSICS REVIEWER

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the General Science Physics Reviewer.

Physics

The set of rules that governs how everything in our world works.

Thermodynamics

The branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.

Electromagnetism

The interaction of electric currents or fields and magnetic fields.

Inertia

The tendency of an object to resist a change in its motion.

Optics

The study of light and its interactions with matter.

Simple Machines

Devices that make work easier by allowing you to trade a small force over a long distance for a larger force over a short distance.

Mechanical Advantage (MA)

The ratio of the output force produced by a machine to the input force applied to it.

Friction

The force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact.

Buoyant Force

The upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an object submerged in it.

Density

Mass per unit volume of a substance, important in determining if an object will float.

Archimedes' Principle

A principle stating that a body submerged in a fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.

Hydraulics

The use of liquids to transmit force, often utilized in machinery.

Angular Velocity (w)

The rate of change of angular displacement of an object.

Linear Motion

Movement in a straight line or along a curve.

Rotational Motion

Movement around an axis.

Combined Motion

Motion that involves both translational and rotational components.

Efficiency

The ratio of useful work output to total work input, typically expressed as a percentage.

Work

The result of a force acting on an object to move it a distance.

Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA)

The mechanical advantage of a machine in a frictionless scenario.

Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA)

The mechanical advantage of a machine considering all sources of friction and inefficiency.

Projectile Motion

The motion of an object that is thrown into the air, subject only to the force of gravity.

Vibrations

Oscillations of physical systems, often associated with sound production.