Contact Forces and Energy Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering core physics concepts including contact forces, energy transformations, collision mechanics, Newton's laws, and experimental variables.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and its velocity, calculated as $\text{Momentum} = \text{mass} \times \text{velocity}$ or $\text{Momentum} = mv$.

Energy

The ability to do work; it cannot be created nor destroyed, but can only be transferred or transformed.

Total Energy

The sum of all energy forms in a system, represented by $\text{Total Energy} = \text{P. E.} + \text{K.E.} + \text{Thermal Energy}$.

Peak Forces

The maximum force or the amount of force objects exert on each other in a collision at the moment of impact.

Force

A push or pull defined by the formula $F = ma$, where unequal forces cause objects to move and collision forces cause changes in shape.

Potential Energy

Stored energy that can be transferred into kinetic energy.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion or movement, which is affected more significantly by velocity than by mass.

Contact forces

Forces that require physical touch within objects and are exerted when objects come into contact or collide.

Gravity

A non-contact force that represents the difference between mass and weight.

Friction

A contact force between two surfaces moving against each other that slows down moving objects and generates thermal energy (heat).

Air resistance

A contact force (or drag) produced by air particles that slows down moving objects and increases with greater surface area.

Elastic limit

The specific amount of force needed to deform an object permanently.

Newtown’s 3rd law

The physical law stating that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Thermal energy

Energy generated as heat by friction between two contacting surfaces moving against each other.

Independent variable

In a scientific experiment, the variable that is changed by the experimenter.

Dependent variable

In a scientific experiment, the factor that is measured, observed as the result, or seen as the outcome.

Controlled variables

In a scientific experiment, the variables and conditions that stay the same.

Collision deformation

The temporary bending or change in shape that occurs in all solid objects before breaking when pushed by force in a collision.