Physics Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core physics concepts, measurement units, one-dimensional kinematic terms, free fall, and projectile motion.

Physics

The study of the basic nature of matter and the interactions that govern its behavior.

Empirical Law

A rule or generalization derived directly from observation.

Hypothesis

An educated guess at the explanation of a problem or phenomenon.

Theory

A testable, organized body of knowledge that explains a part of nature.

Classical Physics

The branch of physics that encompasses mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and optics.

Modern Physics

The branch of physics that includes atomic physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, and condensed matter physics.

Dimensional Analysis

A method of problem-solving that treats units like algebraic quantities that can cancel each other out.

Metric System (SI)

The International System of Units, based on standard units such as the meter ($m$), kilogram ($kg$), and second ($s$).

Significant Figures

Digits in a measurement that include all known digits plus one final estimated digit.

Mechanics

The branch of physics that focuses on the motion of objects and the forces that cause that motion to change.

Kinematics

The subfield of mechanics dealing with the description of motion without reference to the forces causing it.

Dynamics

The subfield of mechanics dealing with the effects that forces have on motion.

Position

The location of an object specified relative to a chosen reference origin.

Displacement

A vector quantity representing the change in position of an object, calculated as final position minus initial position ($\Delta x = x_{\text{final}} - x_{\text{initial}}$).

Average Speed

The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken ($s = \frac{d}{t}$).

Instantaneous Speed

The rate at which distance is covered at a precise instant in time.

Velocity

A vector quantity that specifies both the speed and the direction of motion ($v = \frac{\Delta x}{t}$).

Scalar Quantity

A physical quantity described completely by a single numerical magnitude with units, such as mass or time.

Vector Quantity

A physical quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction, such as velocity or force.

Acceleration

The rate at which velocity changes over time ($a = \frac{v_f - v_i}{t}$), measured in units such as $m/s^2$.

Uniform Acceleration

Motion in which an object's velocity changes at a constant rate over equal time intervals.

Free Fall

The vertical motion of an object subject only to the gravitational force, where air resistance is negligible.

Acceleration Due to Gravity ($g$)

The constant downward acceleration experienced by freely falling objects near Earth's surface, equal to approximately $9.8\,m/s^2$.

Trajectory

The path followed by a moving projectile through space.

Projectile Motion

The two-dimensional motion of an object launched into the air, consisting of constant horizontal velocity and constant vertical acceleration due to gravity.