AP Physics Full Review Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Kinematics, Dynamics, Energy, Momentum, Circular Motion, Rotation, SHM, Waves, Sound, and Electricity based on the AP Physics review notes.

Velocity (on a position graph)

The slope of a position versus time graph.

Acceleration (on a velocity graph)

The slope of a velocity versus time graph.

Displacement (on a velocity graph)

The area under the line in a velocity versus time graph.

Newton’s First Law

If a center of mass is at rest, it’ll remain at rest unless acted upon by a net force; a moving center of mass will maintain a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net force.

Newton’s Second Law

The acceleration of an object/system is equal to the net force acting upon it divided by its mass ($a = \text{Fnet}/m$).

Newton’s Third Law

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, requiring two forces from two objects acting on each other.

Static Equilibrium

Occurs when the net force on a MOTIONLESS object/system is $0$.

Dynamic Equilibrium

Occurs when the net force on a MOVING object/system is $0$ with no acceleration and a constant velocity.

Normal Force

A force that acts perpendicular to the surface applying it.

Static Friction ($Fs$)

Acts on a motionless object with a magnitude/direction that keeps the object from moving ($Fs < Ms \times Fn$) until it reaches a maximum threshold.

Kinetic Friction ($Fk$)

Acts on moving objects once the static friction threshold has been passed, always in the opposite direction of motion ($Fk = Mk \times Fn$).

Work ($w$)

The mechanical transfer of energy to or from an object/system by pushing or pulling; occurring when force is applied and displaces an object ($W = Fd\text{cos}(\theta)$ or $KEf - KEi$).

Kinetic Energy ($K$)

The energy of motion, measured in Joules ($J$), calculated as $K = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$. If kinetic energy is doubled, velocity increases by a factor of $\sqrt{2}$.

Gravitational Potential Energy ($Ug$)

Energy attributed to an object/system based on its location in a gravitational field ($Ug = mgh$).

Elastic Potential Energy ($Us$)

Energy attributed to an object/system based on its contact with a stretched or compressed spring ($Us = \frac{1}{2}kx^2$).

Conservation of Energy

The total energy of an isolated system will be constant; mechanical energy is conserved in the absence of friction.

Power ($P$)

The rate at which energy changes state, measured in watts ($W$), where $1\text{ W} = 1\text{ J/s}$. Formulas include $P = \frac{W}{t}$ or $P = F \times v$.

Impulse ($J$)

The change in momentum, represented as the area under a force by time graph ($I = FΔt = Δ(mv)$).

Elastic Collisions

Collisions that conserve both the momentum and kinetic energy of the system; objects bounce off each other.

Inelastic Collisions

Collisions that conserve momentum but do not conserve kinetic energy; objects may stick together if perfectly inelastic.

Closed System

A system that conserves energy because no energy is changed by constant external factors or lost to surroundings.

Open System

A system where energy is changed by something outside or lost to the surroundings; the presence of friction typically indicates an open system.

Centripetal Acceleration ($Ac$)

A vector directed towards the center of a circular path that turns an object without changing its speed ($Ac = \frac{v^2}{r}$).

Centripetal Force ($Fc$)

The net force directed toward the middle of a circular path that produces centripetal acceleration ($Fc = m \times \frac{v^2}{r}$).

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

The gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the squared distance between their centers ($Fg = \frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2}$).

Angular Velocity ($ω$)

The number of radians an object rotates in a certain time ($ω = \frac{θ}{t}$).

Torque ($T$)

The rotational analog to force, required to change an object’s angular velocity; solved as $T = Fr\text{sin}(\theta)$ or $T = Iα$.

Moment of Inertia ($I$)

A measure of how easily an object can rotate, dependent on mass distribution; standard unit is $\text{kg m}^2$.

Angular Momentum ($L$)

The momentum attributed to the rotation of an object ($L = Iω$); conserved in the absence of external torque.

Amplitude

The initial displacement in simple harmonic motion (how far an object is pushed back).

Period ($T$)

The time required for a system to complete one full revolution or cycle, measured in seconds ($s$).

Frequency ($f$)

The number of revolutions or cycles in a unit of time, measured in Hertz ($Hz$); $f = \frac{1}{T}$.

Hooke’s Law

States the restoring force is equal to the spring constant times the displacement from equilibrium ($Fs = kx$).

Constructive Interference

Occurs when two waves with the same sign displacement overlap, resulting in a combined wave of greater magnitude.

Destructive Interference

Occurs when waves with opposite displacements meet, resulting in a combined wave with a magnitude less than each individual wave.

Nodes and Antinodes

Points in a standing wave that alternate and are equally spaced; the distance between them is equal to $\frac{1}{2}$ a wavelength.

Beats

Occurs each time a sound wave constructively interferes; beat frequency is calculated as $f_{\text{beat}} = |f_1 - f_2|$.

Doppler Effect

The change in frequency of a wave relative to a detector moving in relation to the wave source.

Ionization

The process required to charge matter by creating an imbalance in the number of protons and electrons.

Elementary charge ($e$)

The basic unit of electric charge, representing the magnitude of charge on an electron or proton.

Coulomb’s Law

Calculates the electric force between two charges ($FE = \frac{kq_1q_2}{r^2}$).

Electric Field ($E$)

The presence of a charge creates this in the surrounding space ($E = \frac{F_{\text{on q}}}{q}$). Field vectors point away from positive charges and toward negative charges.

Electric Current ($I$)

The rate at which electric charge crosses a plane per unit time, measured in amperes ($A$) where $1\text{ A} = 1\text{ C/s}$.

Ohm’s Law (Resistance)

The ratio of voltage to current ($R = \frac{V}{I}$), measured in ohms ($Ω$).

Electromotive Force (emf)

The work done per unit charge to drive the flow of charge in a circuit, measured in volts.

Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule

The total current that enters a junction must equal the total current that leaves the junction.

Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule

The sum of potential differences (positive and negative) across any closed loop in a circuit must be zero.