Physics: Energy, Work, Pressure, and Buoyancy

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to energy, work, pressure, and buoyancy.

Potential Energy

Energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated as Ep = mgh.

Kinetic Energy

Energy of an object in motion, calculated as Ek = 1/2 mv^2.

Work

The transfer of energy through force applied over a distance, calculated as W = F ∆x.

Mechanical Energy

The sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system.

Conservation of Energy

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Buoyancy

The upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an object immersed in it.

Density

The mass per unit volume of a substance, represented by ρ = m/V.

Pressure

The force exerted per unit area, represented as P = F/A.

Young’s Modulus

A measure of the stiffness of a solid material defined as the ratio of stress to strain.

Hooke's Law

The law stating that the force needed to extend or compress a spring is proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed.

Elastic Potential Energy

The energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched, calculated as Es = 1/2 kx^2.

Work Done

The energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement.

Mechanical Advantage

The factor by which a machine multiplies the force put into it.

Archimedes’ Principle

A principle that states that an object submerged in a fluid experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Frictionless Environment

A theoretical condition where no energy is lost to friction.

Absolute Pressure

The pressure relative to a perfect vacuum, calculated as the sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric pressure.

Gauge Pressure

The pressure measured relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure.