Integrated Physics Flashcards

Flashcards for PHYS1205: Integrated Physics, covering key vocabulary and definitions.

Vector

A measurement with both magnitude and direction (e.g., Displacement).

Scalar

A measurement with only magnitude (e.g., distance).

Average Velocity

The rate of change of displacement.

Instantaneous Velocity

The velocity at a specific moment in time.

Average Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity.

Instantaneous Acceleration

The acceleration at a specific moment in time.

Newton's 1st Law

When viewed from an inertial reference frame, an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion continues in motion with a constant velocity in the absence of external forces.

Newton's 2nd Law

Net Force is the product of Mass and Acceleration

Newton's 3rd Law

If two objects interact, the force that object one is exerting on object 2 is equal and opposite to that object two is exerting on object one.

Equilibrium

The state where the net force acting on an object is zero.

Kinetic Friction

Friction force when the object is moving

Static Friction

Friction force when the object is static

Centripetal Acceleration

A force that always points toward the center of the circle

Period

The time required for one complete revolution or cycle.

Scalar/Dot Product

The scalar product of two vectors, involving the cosine of the angle between them.

Work

The work done by a force in displacing an object; force times displacement.

Hooke's Law

The force exerted by a spring, proportional to its displacement.

Kinetic Energy

The energy an object possesses due to its motion.

Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

Relates the work done on an object to its change in kinetic energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy associated with an object's position in a gravitational field.

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched.

Conservative Force

A force where the work done is independent of the path taken.

Non-conservative Force

A force where the work done depends on the path taken.

Mechanical Energy

Sum of Kinetic and Potential energy .

Power

The rate at which work is done.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and velocity.

Impulse

The change in momentum of an object.

Conservation of Momentum

Collisions where momentum is conserved.

Conservation of KE

Collisions where Kinetic Energy is conserved.

Arc Length

The length of the arc of a circle.

Average Angular Velocity

Rate of change of angular displacement.

Instantaneous Angular Velocity

The angular velocity at a specific moment in time.

Instantaneous Angular Acceleration

Rate of change of angular velocity.

Moment of Inertia

A measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation.

Torque

A twisting force that causes rotation.

Angular Momentum

The product of moment of inertia and angular velocity.

Wave Number

The number of radians per unit length.

Simple Harmonic Motion

Motion that repeats itself in equal intervals of time.

Bulk Modulus

The change in pressure divided by the fractional change in volume.

Sound Wave Displacement

A wave in which the displacement of the medium is parallel to the direction of propagation.

Sound Wave Pressure

The change in pressure in a sound wave.

Density

Mass per unit volume.

EM Waves

Waves caused by the acceleration of a charge.

Intensity of a Sound Wave

The power carried by a wave per unit area.

Doppler Effect

The change in observed frequency of a wave due to the motion of the source or observer.

Superposition

The summation of two or more waves.

Interference

The combination of two or more waves to form a resultant wave.

Standing Waves

Waves that appear to be standing still.

End Effects

Effects on the length of a pipe that changes resonant frequencies

Pressure

Force per unit area.

Gauge Pressure

Pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

Archimedes Principle

Upward force exerted by a fluid on an immersed object.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.

Total Internal Reflection

The angle at which light is totally reflected.

Focal Length

The distance from the lens or mirror to the point where parallel rays converge or appear to diverge from.

Magnification

The ratio of the image height to the object height.

Path Difference

The difference in distance traveled by two waves.

Interferometer

A device that splits a beam of light into two or more beams.

Coulomb’s Law

The force between electric charges.

Electrical Field

The force per unit charge.

Electrical Potential

The energy per unit charge.

Current

The rate of flow of electric charge.

Ohm’s Law

Relates voltage, current, and resistance.