Physics Concepts: Laws of Motion, Energy, and Gravitation

A set of flashcards covering key physics concepts related to laws of motion, energy, and gravitation.

Newton’s 1st Law of Motion

An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force (Inertia).

Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion

Force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma); the acceleration of an object depends on the net force and the mass of the object.

Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion

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

Kinetic Energy (KE)

The energy of motion. Any moving object with mass has KE. Formula: KE=rac{1}{2} mv^2.

Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)

Energy stored due to an object's height/elevation. Formula: $GPE=mgh$ (where $g ext{≈}10 ext{ m/s}^2$).

Energy Transformation

Energy can be converted from one type to another (e.g., as an object falls, GPE is converted into KE).

The Impact of Speed on KE

If you double the speed of an object, its Kinetic Energy quadruples (because speed is squared in the formula).

Universal Law of Gravitation

The force of gravity increases if mass increases, and decreases as the distance between objects increases.

Schwarzschild Radius

The radius around a mass where the escape velocity equals the speed of light; the "point of no return" for a black hole.

Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.