Linear Motion, Force, and Optics Vocabulary Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to linear motion, force, and optics, helping students prepare for exams.

Speed

Distance per unit time.

Displacement

Distance in a given direction.

Velocity

Displacement per unit time.

Acceleration

Change in velocity per unit time.

Force

Anything that causes the velocity or shape of an object to change.

Newton's First Law

Everybody remains in a state of rest or constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force.

Inertia

The opposition of an object to change from a state of rest or movement.

Momentum

The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.

Centripetal Force

Force needed to keep a body moving in a circle.

Pressure

Force per unit area.

Archimede's Principle

An object immersed in a fluid experiences an up-thrust equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.

Potential Energy

Energy a body has due to its position in a force field.

Kinetic Energy

Energy a body has due to its motion.

Refraction

Bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.

Refractive Index

Ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction.

Total Internal Reflection

Occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in a material's volume when its temperature rises.

Diffraction

Spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap.

Resonance

Phenomenon when a system is driven at its natural frequency, leading to larger amplitude vibrations.

Capacitance

Ratio of the charge on a conductor to its potential.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of light radiation.