Physics Key Concepts: Newton's Laws, Energy, Motion, and Waves

How do observations change across different reference frames?

Observations change because they are different points of view.

What are Newton's three laws?

1. A body in motion remains in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. 2. Force = mass x acceleration (F = ma). 3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

What does equilibrium mean in Newton's laws?

Objects' acceleration is at zero; they must balance each other out.

What is the effect of friction on an object?

Friction always opposes motion.

What causes a change in an object's momentum?

A net force causes a change in an object's momentum.

How does energy conservation work?

Total energy in a closed system remains constant, only changing forms from potential to kinetic.

What is the center of mass of an object?

The center of mass is the middle mass, simplifying calculations by allowing the entire mass to be considered at that point.

Why does the equation of motion for a mass on a spring give oscillatory motion?

It gives oscillatory motion because the restoring force is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium.

What do pendulums use for their equation of motion?

Pendulums use angles rather than position.

What is the cause of rotational motion?

The cause of rotational motion is centripetal acceleration.

What is the relationship between linear motion and rotational motion?

Linear motion can be converted to rotational motion.

How can conservation of angular momentum lead to changes in rotation?

Conservation of angular momentum states that changes in rotation occur based on the distribution of mass.

What do centrifugal and Coriolis forces arise from?

They arise from being in a rotating frame of reference.

What causes rolling motion?

Static friction between the object and surface helps it roll, while friction opposes motion.

What are parts of an ellipse?

Center, foci, and two axes of symmetry.

What is the importance of the ecliptic?

It serves as a reference plane for most solar system celestial bodies.

Why will an object float or sink?

An object will sink if it is more dense than water; it will float if it is less dense.

What is the absolute zero of temperature?

0 K.

What does the ideal gas law tell us?

It describes how a change in temperature, pressure, volume, or number of particles affects the others.

Bernoulli's equation.

What are the motions of fluid described by?

Fluids move from high to low pressure

.Where do fluids move from?

Solid, liquid, gas.

What are the three phases of matter?

Why is temperature a measure of energy?

Higher temperature means faster moving particles; lower temperature means slower moving particles.

It connects gas pressure and temperature to the motion of gas particles.

How does the kinetic theory of gases explain the ideal gas law?

What are the three modes of heat transfer?

Conduction, convection, and radiation.

What are the four stages of the Carnot engine cycle?

Isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression, adiabatic compression.

What charges repel?

Two positives will repel.

What charges attract?

Negative and positive charges attract.

What does the electric field tell us?

It is a vector that indicates the potential force on a charge.

How does a battery charge?

Electrons move from cathode to anode, increasing chemical potential energy.

How does a battery discharge?

Electrons move from anode to cathode, converting chemical potential energy to electricity.

What is the function of a transformer?

To either increase or decrease voltage using induction.

What do electric fields induce?

Magnetic fields, and changing magnetic fields induce changing electric fields.

What does the line 'normal' to a surface mean?

It is the perpendicular line to the surface.

What happens in a curved mirror?

All lines bend towards a focus due to the geometry of the mirror.

Where does a real image come from?

From the convergence of real light rays.

Where do virtual images come from?

From the intersection of imaginary rays.

Why does bending in refraction happen?

The speed of light is different in different materials.

How do lenses work?

Light refracts or bends as it moves through a lens.

When does resonance occur in waves?

Resonance occurs when an external driving force matches the natural frequency of the oscillator.

What led to the discovery of electrons?

Cathode ray tube experiments demonstrated that electrons are waves.

What did gold foil scattering demonstrate?

Atoms contain a dense positive nucleus.

What did the Michelson-Morley interferometer show?

The speed of light is constant and no ether exists.

What did diffraction of light and electrons show?

Matter exhibits both wave and particle properties.

What did neutrinos predict?

Missing energy in beta decay.

What is meant by half-life in an isotope?

The time it takes for half of a sample of that radioactive isotope to decay.