General Science: Physics, Motion, Ergonomics, and Machines

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering core physics concepts, human movement biomechanics, linear and angular motion, ergonomics, and simple and compound machines.

Physics

A fundamental natural science concerned with matter, energy, and the interactions between them, providing laws and models that explain natural and technological phenomena.

Dr. Caesar Saloma

A Filipino physicist and recipient of the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award who advanced optics and signal processing.

Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

A CERN research facility using principles of particle physics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics that led to the discovery of the Higgs boson.

Liter of Light

A local Philippine innovation that installs plastic bottles filled with water and bleach into roofs to refract and diffuse sunlight, providing sustainable interior lighting to off-grid homes.

Photovoltaic Cell

A device used in solar lighting and energy systems that converts sunlight directly into DC electrical energy through energy transformation.

Electroluminescence

The process used by LED light bulbs to convert electrical energy directly into light with minimal heat output, enhancing energy efficiency.

Mechanical Advantage

The ratio of force output to force input obtained by using mechanical tools like levers, pulleys, and inclined planes to reduce human effort while increasing work output.

Passive Ventilation

A cooling strategy inspired by traditional bahay kubo architecture that relies on convection currents to cool interior spaces without mechanical energy.

Kulintang Ensemble

A traditional Philippine musical ensemble whose instruments produce distinct pitch and timbre based on wave resonance, natural frequency, and acoustic physics.

Piezoelectric Materials

Materials embedded in flooring tiles that convert mechanical pressure from footsteps into electrical energy to power public lighting.

Gravity-Powered Water Dispenser

An off-grid innovation created in Mindanao that uses gravitational potential energy and fluid pressure to transport and dispense water from elevated tanks.

Hybrid Electric Road Train

A mass transit vehicle developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) incorporating electromagnetic motors and regenerative braking to lower fuel consumption.

Translational Motion

The movement of an object from one location to another in which every part of the object moves the exact same distance in the exact same direction.

Rotational Motion

The motion that occurs when an object turns or spins around a fixed central line known as an axis of rotation.

Displacement

A vector quantity ($\text{d}$) representing the straight-line change in position from an object's starting point to its ending point.

Velocity

A vector quantity ($v$) defined as displacement divided by the time interval ($v = \frac{d}{t}$), specifying both speed and direction.

Momentum

A vector quantity ($p$) that measures an object's motion and resistance to stopping, calculated as the product of mass and velocity ($p = m \times v$).

Radian

The standard physics unit for measuring rotation, defined as the angle formed when the arc length ($s$) equals the radius ($r$).

Angular Velocity

The rate of change of angular displacement over time, represented by the Greek letter $\text{ω}$ and measured in $\text{rad/s}$.

Tangential Velocity

The linear speed ($v$) of a specific point on a rotating object, which increases as the radial distance ($r$) from the axis of rotation increases.

Kinetic Chain

A biomechanical sequence of rotations across body segments (pelvis, trunk, shoulder, arm) that transfers energy to achieve maximum linear velocity at release.

Kuda Serve

A Sepak Takraw serve utilizing greater hip flexion and trunk rotation at ball contact to generate faster ball speeds averaging around $22.8\,m/s$.

Conservation of Angular Momentum

The physical principle demonstrated by figure skaters who reduce their radius by pulling their arms inward, decreasing their moment of inertia and increasing angular velocity.

Ergonomic Design

The scientific application of physics and human motion principles to design tools, furniture, and environments that maximize comfort, safety, and efficiency.

Anthropometry

The study and measurement of human body dimensions used by designers to determine proper reach zones, furniture heights, and structural alignments.

Silyang Pinoy

A multifunctional school furniture set made from engineered bamboo by DOST-FPRDI that transforms from a chair-and-table set into an evacuation bed during calamities.

Simple Machine

A basic mechanical device with few or no moving parts that makes work easier by changing the magnitude or direction of an applied force.

Compound Machine

A mechanical device made of two or more simple machines working together to complete complex tasks efficiently.

Lever

A simple machine consisting of a rigid beam that pivots on a fixed support point called a fulcrum to multiply force or change force direction.

Wedge

A simple machine formed by two inclined planes placed back-to-back, used to split, cut, or hold materials in place.

Wheel and Axle

A simple machine consisting of a larger circular wheel attached to a smaller central shaft or rod that rotate together to multiply turning force.

Machine Efficiency

The percentage of energy input that is successfully transformed into useful work output, calculated as $\text{Efficiency} = \frac{\text{Work Output}}{\text{Work Input}} \times 100\%$.

Windlass

A compound machine combining a wheel and axle with a crank lever to lift or pull heavy loads by winding a rope or cable around a drum.