Measurement and Motion Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards derived from the Measurement and Motion study guide, covering fundamentals of physics, measurement systems, types of error, units, and kinematic concepts.

British System

The primary system of units in use within the United States today.

Random Error

The type of error that is the result of accidental variations in the measurement of a physical quantity.

Systematic Error

An error that consistently biases measurements in one direction, such as using a clock that always runs slow.

Measurement

The process of comparing an unknown quantity to a known standard.

Length

A fundamental quantity measured in meters in the metric system.

Time

The continuous forward flow of events.

Weight

A property of an object that changes depending on where it is located in the universe.

Mass

A direct measurement of the amount of matter that an object contains, whose standard was based on an artifact until recently.

Circumference

The total distance around the outside perimeter of a circle.

Conversion Factor

A multiplier used when it is necessary to change a measurement from one set of units to another.

Four Fundamental Quantities

The fundamental quantities used to express almost all other measured values: length, time, mass, and electric charge.

Experimental Error

The uncertainty involved in the process of making a measurement by any means.

Hydrometer

An instrument used to measure the density of a liquid.

Mega

A metric prefix (abbreviated M) that means one million ($10^6$).

Speed

A measure of how fast something is moving, defined as the distance covered per unit time.

Instantaneous Speed

The speed of an object at a specific instant in time, such as the value shown on a speedometer.

Average Speed

The total distance traveled divided by the total time interval taken for a trip.

Acceleration

The change in velocity divided by the time interval ($a = \frac{\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}}{\text{s}}$ or $a = \frac{\text{change in velocity}}{\text{time interval}}$).

Acceleration Due to Gravity ($g$)

The acceleration of a freely falling object, approximately equal to $10\text{ m/s}^2$ on Earth's surface.

Uniform Motion

The state of an object moving with constant speed in a straight line.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that can be fully expressed using only magnitude (a number plus units) without requiring a specified direction.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that must have both magnitude and direction clearly indicated.

Path of a Projectile

A parabola formed by the trajectory of a projectile when air resistance is neglected.

Slope of a Motion Plot

The slope of a straight line plotted from motion data, which is equal to the magnitude of the moving object's speed or velocity.

Centripetal Acceleration Direction

The direction of acceleration for an object moving on a circular path at constant speed, pointing toward the center of the circle.

Hang Time

The amount of time an athlete's feet are off the ground during a jump, typically less than $1\text{ s}$.

Scientific Method

The process by which a scientific theory or hypothesis must be substantiated.