General Science Term 1 - Physics in Daily Life

Vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts of physics including energy forms, forces, motion, and their real-world applications as discussed in the General Science Term 1 notes.

Physics

The branch of science that studies matter, energy, motion, and forces, and explains how these interact to govern natural phenomena and technological systems.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Energy

The capacity to do work or cause change.

Kinetic Energy

The form of energy associated with motion.

Potential Energy

The form of energy that is stored.

Thermal Energy

The form of energy associated with heat.

Electrical Energy

The form of energy resulting from moving charges.

Chemical Energy

The form of energy stored in chemical bonds.

Law of Conservation of Energy

The principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Energy Conversion

The transformation of energy from one form to another.

Force (F)

A push or pull that can change the motion or shape of an object, defined by the formula $F = m \times a$.

Motion

The change in position of an object over time.

Linear Motion

Motion that follows a straight path.

Circular Motion

Motion that follows a curved path.

Oscillatory Motion

Back-and-forth movement.

Inertia

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion; it is directly related to mass.

Work (W)

The transfer of energy that occurs when a force causes displacement in the direction of the force, defined by the formula $W = F \times d \times \text{cos}(\theta)$.

Power (P)

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, defined by the formula $P = \frac{W}{t}$.

Efficiency ($\eta$)

The ability of a system to convert input energy into useful output, calculated as $\text{Efficiency} = (\frac{\text{Useful Output}}{\text{Input}}) \times 100\%$.

Friction

A force that opposes motion between surfaces and produces heat, which reduces efficiency.

Gravity (g)

The force that attracts objects toward Earth, with a value of $g = 9.8\,m/s^2$.

Physics in Health and Safety Examples

Applications include seatbelts (inertia), helmets (force distribution), and X-rays (electromagnetic waves).

Physics in Leisure and Sports Examples

Applications include basketball (projectile motion), cycling (rotational motion), and swimming (fluid resistance).