Physics for the IB Diploma: Workbook

Flashcards for Newton's Laws of Motion and Circular Motion

Newton's First Law of Motion

An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Equilibrium

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object, is in the same direction as the net force, and is inversely proportional to the mass of the object. (F=ma)

Newton (unit of force)

The force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg at a rate of 1 ms-2.

Newton's Third Law of Motion

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Angular Speed (ω)

The angular displacement made in one second.

Centripetal Force

The unbalanced force that produces circular motion, directed towards the center of the circle.

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated as KE = rac{1}{2} mv^2, where m is mass and v is velocity.

Potential Energy

The energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration, often calculated as PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.

Momentum

The quantity of motion an object has, calculated as the product of mass and velocity, given by the formula p = mv.

Conservation of Energy

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

Friction

The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another, which can affect motion and energy transfer.

Work

The energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement, calculated as Work = Force x Distance.

Power

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, calculated as Power = Work / Time.

Torque

A measure of the rotational force on an object, calculated as Torque = Force x Distance from pivot point.

Impulse

The change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a period of time, calculated as Impulse = Force x Time.

Mechanical Energy

The sum of potential and kinetic energy in a mechanical system.