Semi Final Physics Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts and terms from the semi-final physics lecture.

Motion

A change in position of an object over time.

Reference Point

A stationary object used to determine if something has moved.

Force

A push or a pull that acts on an object.

Net Force

The total combination of all forces acting on an object.

Gravitational Force

The attractive force exerted by objects with mass.

Balanced Forces

Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction resulting in no motion.

Unbalanced Forces

Forces that are not equal, resulting in a change in motion.

Inertia

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity of an object.

Newton's First Law of Motion

An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting upon it and inversely proportional to its mass.

Newton's Third Law of Motion

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

Friction

A force that opposes the motion of an object.

Static Friction

Frictional force that prevents motion when force is applied.

Kinetic Friction

Frictional force that acts when an object is sliding over a surface.

Rolling Friction

Friction that occurs when an object rolls over a surface.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms.

Weight

The force of gravity acting on an object, measured in Newtons.

Normal Force

The force perpendicular to two surfaces in contact.

Coefficient of Friction

A value that represents the frictional force between two objects.

Electromagnetic Force

The force that holds atoms and molecules together.

Strong Nuclear Force

The force between protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus.

Weak Nuclear Force

The force responsible for radioactive decay.

Action-Reaction Pair

A pair of forces acting on two different objects, where each force is equal in size and opposite in direction.

3D Motion

Movement that occurs in three dimensions—x, y, and z directions.

Contact Force

A force that requires contact between two objects.

Static Friction Maximum Limit

The maximum force that must be overcome for an object to start moving.

Inversely Proportional

A relationship in which one quantity increases as another decreases.

Opposing Forces

Forces acting in opposite directions on the same object.

External Force

A force acting on an object that originates from outside the object.

Friction's Advantage

Friction allows for movement and stability in various actions.

Friction's Disadvantage

Friction causes wear and tear on mechanical parts.

Gravity

The force of attraction between all objects with mass.

Distance

The space between two points, affecting gravitational force.

Ballistic Motion

The motion of an object thrown into the air, affected by gravity.

Heat Release in Motion

The thermal energy generated due to friction between surfaces.

Energy Conversion

The process of changing energy from one form to another.

Mechanical Deterioration

Damage caused by the continuous operation of moving parts.

Object Resting on a Table

An example of balanced forces where net force equals zero.

A Person Standing Still

Another example of balanced forces with net force equals zero.

Frictional Force Calculation

Force of friction equals the coefficient of friction multiplied by the normal force.

Force of Gravity on Mass

Weight, which equals mass multiplied by gravitational acceleration.

Velocity Dependence of Friction

Friction often remains nearly constant regardless of speed.

Rough Surfaces vs. Smooth Surfaces

Rough surfaces create more friction than smooth surfaces.

Maximum Static Friction

Occurs just before an object starts to move.

Dynamic Stability

The ability of a system to maintain stability while in motion.

Frictional Resistance

Opposition to motion resulting from the surfaces in contact.

Energy Required to Overcome Friction

The work necessary to move an object against friction.

Direction of Larger Force

The direction in which an object moves is the same as the larger force.

Changing Direction of Motion

An unbalanced force can change the speed or direction of an object.

Example of Rolling Friction

Occurs with wheels or balls rolling on a surface.

Dog Pulling on a Leash

An example of an unbalanced force acting on a person.

Mass vs. Weight Relationship

Mass is constant, but weight can vary based on location.

Examples of Forces Acting in the x-direction

Engine force and friction acting on a moving car.

Examples of Forces Acting in the y-direction

Gravity acting on a ball thrown into the air.

Mass Acceleration Relationship

Acceleration increases with greater net force acting on the same mass.

Static vs. Kinetic Energy Comparison

Static energy requires more force to start moving than kinetic energy.

Effect of Force on Acceleration

Increased force leads to increased acceleration.

Contact Area Impact on Friction

Friction does not depend on the area of contact as long as the weight is the same.

Normal Force and Friction Relationship

Friction is directly proportional to the normal force.

Force Equals Mass Times Acceleration

Fundamental equation in Newton's laws of motion.

Example of Action-Reaction Forces

Pushing against a wall generates an equal and opposite force on the person.

Fracture of Materials

Damage caused to materials through improper handling of friction.

Example of Gravitational Force

The earth attracting objects towards its center.

Minimum Force Requirement for Motion

The force required to overcome static friction.

Air Resistance Effect

Opposes the direction of motion and decreases speed.

Weight Change with Distance

Weight decreases as distance from earth increases.

Effect of Mass on Inertia

More massive objects have greater inertia and are harder to move.

Friction's Role in Mobility

Essential for walking, driving, and holding objects.

Examples of Gravitational Effects

Throwing a ball where gravity affects its trajectory.

Comparison of Static and Kinetic Friction

Kinetic friction is generally less than static friction.

Surface Roughness Effect on Friction

Rough surfaces create greater friction compared to smooth surfaces.

Collisions and Action-Reaction Pairs

Forces in collisions arise as action-reaction pairs.