Physics and Math - Kinematics and Dynamics

MCAT Chapter 1

Base Units

standard units around which the system itself is designed

Derived Units

associating base units with eachother

Vectors

numbers that have magnitude and direction

Scalar

Numbers that have magnitude only and no direction

Resultant

sum or difference of two or more vectors

Displacement

a change in position in space

Distance

considers path and is a scalar quantity

velocity

rate of change of displacement in a given unit of time

speed

rate of actual distance traveled in a given unit of time

Instantaneous velocity

measure of average velocity as the change in time approaches zero

Force

vector quantity that is experienced as pushing or pulling on objects

Gravity

an attractive force felt by all forms of matter

Friction

Type of force that opposes the movement of objects

Static friction

exists between a stationary object and the surface upon which it rest

Normal Force

Component of force between two objects in contact that is perpindicular to the plane of contact between object and the surface upon which it rests

Kinetic Friction

Exists between a sliding object and the surface over which the object slides

Mass

measure of body’s inertia

Weight

measure the gravitational force of an objects mass

Acceleration

Rate of change of velocity that na object experiences as a result of some applied force

Deceleration

accerleation in the direction opposite to the inital velocity

Newtons First Law

A body either at rest or in motion with constant velocity will remain that way unless a net force acts upon it

Newton’s Second Law

An object of mass will accelerate when the vector sum of the forces result in some nonzero resultant force vector

Newtons Third Law

To every action there is always an opposed but equal reaction

Linear Motion

objects velocity and acceleration are along the line of motion, pathway of moving object continues along straight line

Projectile Motion

Motion follows a path along two dimensions

Dynamics

Study of forces and torques

Translational Equilibrium

Exists only when the vector sum of all of the forces acting on an object is zero

Rotational Motion

Occurs when forces are applied against an object in such a way as to cause the object to roate around a fixed pivot point