Chapter 1: Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors - Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the nature of physics, solving problems, standard units, significant figure rules, and vector operations based on the Chapter 1 Master Study Packet.

Physics

An experimental science that seeks to find patterns that relate the phenomena of nature.

Physical Theories

The patterns that relate the phenomena of nature, discovered by physicists.

Physical Law (or Principle)

A very well-established or widely used theory.

Identify

The first step of the problem-solving method where relevant concepts, target variables, and known quantities are identified.

Set Up

The second step of the problem-solving method where equations are chosen and a sketch of the situation is drawn.

Execute

The third step of the problem-solving method where the math is done and the solution is carried out.

Evaluate

The fourth step of the problem-solving method where the answer is compared with estimates and reconsidered if a discrepancy exists.

Idealized Model

A simplified version of a physical system used to simplify analysis of a problem.

SI (International System)

The most widely used system of units, abbreviated from the French name Système International.

Meter ($m$)

The standard SI unit of length.

Second ($s$)

The standard SI unit of time.

Kilogram ($kg$)

The standard SI unit of mass.

Unit Prefixes

Modifiers used to create larger and smaller units for the fundamental quantities, such as kilo ($k = 10^3$) and milli ($m = 10^{-3}$).

Dimensionally Consistent

A property of every valid physics equation stating that terms added or equated must have the same units.

Conversion Factor

A ratio of the same physical quantity in two different units that is equal to 1, used to convert unit sets.

Significant Figures

Digits used to indicate the uncertainty of a measured quantity based on the precision of measurement.

Sig-Fig Rule (Multiplication/Division)

The calculated result has no more significant figures than the factor with the fewest significant figures.

Sig-Fig Rule (Addition/Subtraction)

The calculated result keeps only as many decimal places as the term with the fewest digits to the right of the decimal point.

Order-of-Magnitude Estimate

A rough ballpark estimate correct to within a power of ten, used when only crude input data are available.

Scalar Quantity

A physical quantity described by a single number representing magnitude only.

Vector Quantity

A physical quantity that possesses both a magnitude and a direction in space.

Negative of a Vector

A vector that has the same magnitude as the original but points in the opposite direction.

Head-to-Tail Method

A graphical procedure for adding vectors where the tail of each vector is placed at the head of the previous one.

Vector Components

A precise method of representing a vector in terms of its parts along horizontal ($A_x$), vertical ($A_y$), and sometimes depth ($A_z$) axes.

Unit Vector

A vector with a magnitude of 1 and no units that is used solely to describe a direction in space.

i with hat

The unit vector pointing in the $+x$-direction.

j with hat

The unit vector pointing in the $+y$-direction.

k with hat

The unit vector pointing in the $+z$-direction.

Scalar (Dot) Product

The multiplication of two vectors that results in a scalar, calculated as $\vec{A} \cdot \vec{B} = AB \cos(\phi)$.

Vector (Cross) Product

The multiplication of two vectors that results in a third vector perpendicular to the original two, with magnitude $AB \sin(\phi)$.

Right-Hand Rule

A method used to determine the direction of the vector (cross) product result.

Anticommutative

A property of the vector product where reversing the order of the vectors changes the sign of the result ($\vec{A} \times \vec{B} = -(\vec{B} \times \vec{A})$).