Introduction to Physics, Aerodynamics, and Light

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering notable physicists, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, airspeed types, and the properties of light and color.

Physicist

A scientist who studies the fundamental laws of nature, exploring how matter, energy, space, and time interact.

Albert Einstein

Known as the Father of Modern Physics, he developed the theory of relativity, explained the photoelectric effect, and is famous for the equation $E=mc^2$.

Isaac Newton

An English physicist and mathematician who formulated the laws of motion, the universal law of gravitation, and invented the reflecting telescope.

Galileo Galilei

Known as the father of modern science, he studied motion and falling objects and greatly improved the telescope.

Marie Curie

Pioneered research on radioactive elements, discovered Polonium and Radium, and was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Michael Faraday

A scientist who demonstrated electromagnetic induction and established the principles of electric motors and generators.

Nikola Tesla

An inventor famous for developing the Alternating Current (AC) system and the Tesla Coil, which improved electrical transmission.

Gregorio Y. Zara

A Filipino engineer and physicist best remembered for inventing the first two-way video telephone.

Fe del Mundo

A pioneer in Pediatrics who invented a low-cost bamboo incubator to help reduce infant mortality.

Dr. Casimiro del Rosario

A Filipino national scientist and pioneer in physics, meteorology, and astronomy who researched UV light and high voltage electrical discharges.

Fluid

Any substance, such as a liquid or gas, that flows, deforms, and changes shape to match its container when subject to force.

Density ($\rho$)

The mass of fluid particles packed into a specific amount of space, with the standard unit $kg/m^3$.

Viscosity ($\mu$)

A fluid's internal resistance to flow, or its internal friction and stickiness, measured in $Pa \cdot s$, $P$, or $cP$.

Pressure

The physical force applied perpendicularly to a surface divided by the area over which it is distributed, expressed as $P = \frac{F}{A}$.

Atmospheric Pressure

The force exerted by the weight of the Earth's atmosphere pushing down on a surface, which decreases at higher altitudes.

Boyle's Law

A principle stating that there is an increase in pressure as the volume of a gas decreases.

Aerodynamics

The branch of fluid mechanics that studies the motion of air and the forces created when objects move through it.

Relative Wind

The breeze felt when moving through air, which always blows parallel and directly opposite to the direction of travel.

The Continuity Principle

States that when a flowing fluid is forced into a narrower path, its speed must increase ($A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2$).

Bernoulli's Principle

Formulated by Daniel Bernoulli, it states that as the speed of a fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.

Lift

The upward aerodynamic force generated by wings or an airfoil as an aircraft moves through the air.

Weight (Gravity)

The downward force pulling an aircraft toward the center of the Earth.

Thrust

The forward force produced by an aircraft's propulsion system that drives the aircraft forward through the air mass.

Drag

The rearward, retarding force caused by the disruption of airflow that opposes the forward motion of an aircraft.

Airspeed

The speed of an aircraft relative to the surrounding air mass, used to calculate lift, drag, and structural limits.

Indicated Airspeed (IAS)

The direct reading from the aircraft's airspeed indicator, measuring raw dynamic pressure uncorrected for errors.

Calibrated Airspeed (CAS)

Indicated airspeed corrected for installation and instrument errors.

Equivalent Airspeed (EAS)

Calibrated airspeed corrected for the compressibility of air, primarily used in high-performance or high-altitude flight.

True Airspeed (TAS)

The actual speed of an aircraft relative to the air mass, which is EAS corrected for non-standard altitude and temperature.

Reflection

The bouncing of light off surfaces.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes into a new material.

Dispersion

The separation of light into its component colors, such as light passing through a prism.

Diffraction

The spreading of light around edges or through small openings.

Interference

The combination of light waves to form patterns of brightness (constructive) and darkness (destructive).

Polarization

The restriction of light vibrations to a particular direction.

Rods

Specialized cells in the human eye sensitive to brightness, responsible for black and white vision.

Cones

Cells in the retina sensitive to red, green, or blue light, allowing for color perception.

Selective Reflection

The phenomenon where objects appear colored because they reflect certain wavelengths of light and absorb others.

Selective Transmission

The phenomenon where transparent materials appear colored based on the wavelengths of light they allow to pass through.

Additive Mixing

Combining different colors of light to produce new colors, where Red + Green = Yellow, Red + Blue = Magenta, and Blue + Green = Cyan.

Subtractive Mixing

The mixing of pigments or paints where more light is absorbed, resulting in darker colors.

Complementary Colors

Two colors that combine to produce white light.

Light

A form of energy known as electromagnetic radiation consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that do not require a medium to travel.