General Physics 1 ETA Review: Kinematics, Forces, Energy, Center of Mass, Momentum, Collision, Rotational Motion

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from Kinematics, Projectile Motion, Forces, Work/Energy, Center of Mass, Momentum, Collisions, and Rotational Motion.

Velocity

Rate at which an object's position changes with time.

Instantaneous velocity

Velocity at a specific moment in time.

Average velocity

Total displacement divided by total time.

Acceleration

Rate of change of velocity; Δv/Δt (units m/s^2).

Four Kinematic Equations

Relationships between position, velocity, acceleration, and time for constant acceleration.

Projectile

An object launched into motion and moving under gravity with negligible air resistance.

Trajectory

The path a projectile follows, typically a parabola.

Airtime

Time of flight of a projectile from launch to landing.

Maximum height

The highest vertical position reached by a projectile; Vy = 0 at the top.

Range

Horizontal distance traveled by a projectile.

Projectile motion

Motion combining horizontal constant velocity and vertical acceleration due to gravity.

Horizontal component

Velocity component parallel to the ground; ideally constant in projectile motion.

Vertical component

Velocity component perpendicular to the ground; follows vertical free-fall under gravity.

Vi cos θ

Horizontal component of initial velocity in projectile motion.

Vi sin θ

Vertical component of initial velocity in projectile motion.

Gravity (g)

Acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.8 m/s^2 downward.

Force

Push or pull that can cause motion; measured in Newtons.

Newton's First Law

An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by a net external force (inertia).

Inertia

Resistance of any object to a change in its state of motion; proportional to mass.

Newton's Second Law

Net external force causes acceleration: F = ma.

Newton's Third Law

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

Free body diagram

A diagram showing all forces acting on an object.

Normal Force

Perpendicular contact force exerted by a surface on an object.

Friction Force

Parallel force to a surface that opposes motion (static or kinetic).

Tension Force

Pull exerted by a rope or cord.

Weight

Gravitational force exerted on an object by the Earth (W = mg).

Work

Energy transfer when a force causes displacement; W = Fd cos θ (units J, scalar).

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion: KE = 1/2 m v^2.

Potential Energy

Stored energy due to position or condition; includes gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy

PE_g = m g h (energy due to height in a gravitational field).

Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it transforms between forms but total energy is constant.

Power

Rate at which work is done; P = W/t or P = Fv (Unit: Watt).

Center of Mass

Geometric point representing the average position of all mass in a body; shifts toward heavier parts.

Moment of Inertia

I; resistance to rotational acceleration; depends on mass distribution; discrete: ∑ m r^2; continuous: ∫ r^2 dm.

Parallel Axis Theorem

I = I_cm + M d^2; relates moments of inertia about different axes.

Torque

Rotational equivalent of force; T = r F sin θ.

Momentum

p = m v; vector quantity representing motion; conserved in closed systems during collisions.

Impulse

Change in momentum; J = F Δt.

Elastic Collision

Collision where momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Inelastic Collision

Collision where momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.

Perfectly Inelastic

Colliding objects stick together after impact (max KE loss while momentum is conserved).

Dot Product

Scalar product of two vectors; yields a scalar.

Cross Product

Vector product of two vectors; yields a vector perpendicular to both.

Unit Vector

A vector with magnitude 1 that indicates direction.