Physics 4A-32211 Spring 2026 Midterm Exam #1 Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes focused on key physics concepts relevant to the midterm exam.

Vector Magnitude

The length or size of a vector, which can be zero even if one of its components is not zero.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity represented by a single value (magnitude) that does not include direction, such as temperature or mass.

Resultant Force

The single force that represents the vector sum of two or more forces acting on an object.

Displacement

The change in position of an object, which includes both the distance and direction of the object's movement.

Acceleration Due to Gravity (g)

The acceleration experienced by an object due to the gravitational pull of a massive body, approximately 9.81 ext{ m/s}^2 on Earth.

Instantaneous Velocity

The velocity of an object at a specific moment in time.

Projectile Motion

The motion of an object that is launched into the air and experiences constant acceleration due to gravity.

Component of Velocity

The projection of a vector in a specified direction, usually broken down into horizontal and vertical components.

Angle of Launch

The angle at which an object is projected into the air relative to the horizontal.

Newtons (N)

The SI unit of force, defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared.

Grade of a Slope

The ratio of rise to run, often expressed as a percentage, indicating the steepness of a hill.

Significant Figures

Digts in a number that carry meaning contributing to its precision.

Uniform Acceleration

Constant acceleration, where the rate of change of velocity is the same over time.