General Physics Fundamentals Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards covering major definitions, principles, units, and branches from the general physics lecture notes.

Science

Systematized, organized body of knowledge based on facts, nature, laws, theories, and principles.

Body of Knowledge

Information that is organized, classified, and systematized about the natural world.

Theory

Explanation of observed phenomena that is not yet completely proven experimentally.

Law (Scientific)

Statement that describes consistent relationships between variables in nature, verified by experiment.

Principle

Experimentally proven explanation of specific phenomena (e.g., Archimedes' Principle).

Direct Proportionality

Relationship in which both variables increase or decrease together (↑↑).

Inverse Relationship

Relationship in which one variable increases while the other decreases (↑↓).

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Mass

Quantity of matter in a body; constant regardless of location.

Volume

Space occupied by an object.

Weight

Gravitational pull on a body; varies with location.

Archimedes' Principle

Buoyant force on an immersed object equals the weight of the displaced fluid.

Physics

Science dealing with matter, energy, and their interactions.

Cube (Volume)

Volume = side³; three equal dimensions.

Rectangular Block (Volume)

Volume = length × width × height.

Cylinder (Volume)

Volume = πr²h, where r is radius and h is height.

Cone (Volume)

Volume = (1/3)πr²h.

Sphere (Volume)

Volume = (4/3)πr³.

Irregular Object Volume

Determined by fluid displacement using a graduated cylinder. : V=L2-L1

Energy

Ability to do work.

Potential Energy

Stored energy due to position, condition, or composition.

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion.

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in stretched or compressed elastic objects.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy of an object elevated to a height relative to Earth.

Chemical Potential Energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds.

Mechanics

Branch of physics dealing with motion and forces.

Dynamics

Study of the causes of motion (forces).

Kinematics

Description of how objects move, without regard to causes.

Classical (Newtonian) Mechanics

Mechanics of large objects at everyday speeds; includes Law of Universal Gravitation.

Quantum Mechanics

Study of motion and behavior of atoms and sub-atomic particles.

Relativistic Mechanics

Physics of objects moving at speeds close to light speed.

Supersonics

Study of phenomena produced by motion faster than sound in a medium.

Theory of Relativity

Einstein’s theory relating energy and mass (E = mc²).

Speed of Light (c)

3×10⁸ m/s (≈3×10⁵ km/s or 186,000 mi/s).

Heat

Energy possessed by a body due to molecular vibration.

Thermodynamics

Study of heat, its conversion to other energy forms, and accompanying processes.

Joule (J)

SI unit of work/heat: work done by 1 N through 1 m.

Calorie

Heat needed to raise 1 g of water by 1 °C.

British Thermal Unit (Btu)

Heat needed to raise 1 lb of water by 1 °F.

Calorimeter

Device used to measure heat in a body.

Calorimetry

Study of measuring heat changes.

Temperature

Degree of hotness or coldness of a body.

Thermometer

Instrument used to measure temperature.

Thermometry

Field studying temperature measurement.

Cryogenics

Study of matter behavior at very low temperatures.

Absolute Zero

0 K (−273 °C); theoretical temperature where atomic motion ceases.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy is conserved when heat converts to or from other forms.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Heat flows spontaneously from hotter to colder bodies unless work is done.

Electricity

Phenomena associated with charges in motion.

Electric Current

Flow of electric charge; unit Ampere (A).

Potential Difference

Work done per unit charge between two points; unit Volt (V).

Electric Resistance

Opposition to current flow; unit Ohm (Ω).

Electric Power

Work done per unit time in an electric circuit; unit Watt (W).

Electric Capacitance

Ability to store electric charge; unit Farad (F).

Acoustics

Branch of physics dealing with sound and sound waves.

Optics

Study of light and vision.

Geometric Optics

Optics branch dealing with reflection and refraction of light.

Reflection

Light bounces back from a surface.

Refraction

Light bends when passing from one medium into another.

Convex Lens

Thicker in the middle; converges light rays.

Concave Lens

Thinner in the middle; diverges light rays.

Physical Optics

Study of wave properties of light, including interference and diffraction.

Interference (Light)

Pattern formed when two or more light waves meet.

Diffraction

Bending of light around obstacles/openings.

Polarization

Restriction of light vibrations to a single plane.

Nuclear Physics

Study of atomic nuclei and their interactions.

Nuclear Fission

Splitting of heavy atomic nuclei into smaller nuclei.

Nuclear Fusion

Joining of light atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei.

Quantum Physics

Field studying energy quanta and atomic structure.

Plasma Physics

Study of ionized gases containing free charged particles.

Solid-State Physics

Physics of solids, especially semiconductors and electronic devices.

Semiconductor

Material that conducts poorly in pure form but can be doped to improve conductivity.

Doping (Semiconductors)

Adding impurities to semiconductors to change conductivity.

X-ray Discovery

Wilhelm Roentgen’s 1895 detection of high-energy electromagnetic radiation.

Radioactivity

Spontaneous decay of unstable nuclei, discovered by Henri Becquerel (1896).

Alpha Ray

Helium nucleus radiation; stopped by paper.

Beta Ray

High-speed electron/positron radiation; stopped by thin metal.

Gamma Ray

High-energy photons; require thick concrete or lead shielding.

Measurement

Comparison of an unknown quantity with a standard unit.

Fundamental Quantity

Physical quantity measured directly (e.g., length, mass, time).

Derived Quantity

Quantity obtained from formulas involving fundamental quantities (e.g., velocity).

Scalar Quantity

Physical quantity with magnitude only.

Vector Quantity

Physical quantity with magnitude and direction.

MKS System

Metric system using meter, kilogram, second.

CGS System

Metric system using centimeter, gram, second.

FPS System

Imperial system using foot, pound, second.

Vernier Caliper

Instrument measuring lengths to 0.1 mm accuracy.

Micrometer Caliper

Instrument measuring lengths to 0.01 mm accuracy.

Luminous Intensity

Apparent brightness; unit candela.

Mole

SI unit for amount of substance; 6.022×10²³ entities.