Physics and Scientific Inquiry Review

Flashcards covering scientific inquiry, classical and modern science, kinematics, linear motion, Newton's laws of motion, gravity, and rotational dynamics.

Daily Do

A daily practice or routine referenced in Chapter 1 to help guide effective study sessions and make the most out of study time.

Socrates

An important historical philosopher noted in Chapter 1 whose key contributions and significance are studied in the history of thought.

Aristotle

An ancient philosopher noted for his early ideas about motion and free-fall, whose thinking was not always right.

Archimedes

A historical figure whose specific scientific and mathematical contributions are studied in Chapter 1.

Mechanical Advantage

A measure of the force amplification achieved by using a mechanical tool or device, stated in words or symbolically as an equation.

Devices to Harness Mechanical Advantage

Five simple mechanical devices used to achieve mechanical advantage.

Certainty in Science

The concept examining the level of proof, confidence, and tentative nature of scientific knowledge.

Science

An enterprise defined by three key aspects, distinguishing classical approaches from modern science.

Pseudoscience

A collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to process information by looking for, or interpreting, information that is consistent with one's existing beliefs.

Barnum Effect

A common psychological phenomenon where individuals believe generic personality descriptions apply specifically to them.

Five Innate Human Traits

Five inherent traits listed to consider what defines being human.

Position (Space)

A location in space relative to a reference point, often represented using letters such as $x$ or $y$.

Displacement (Space)

The change in position of an object in space, written with letters as \begin{equation}\begin{aligned}\Delta x\end{aligned}\end{equation} or \begin{equation}\begin{aligned}\Delta y\end{aligned}\end{equation}.

Distance (Space)

The total length of the path traveled by an object, which differs from displacement because it is scalar and non-directional.

Speed vs. Velocity

Speed is a scalar quantity measuring how fast an object moves, whereas velocity is a vector quantity incorporating both speed and direction.

Average Speed

The total distance traveled divided by the total time taken to travel that distance.

Three Ways to Accelerate

An object accelerates if it is speeding up, slowing down, or changing its direction of motion.

Big vs. Small Accelerations

Distinctions between high and low rates of change in velocity, distinguished by descriptive words and how they feel physically to an observer.

Average Acceleration

The change in velocity divided by the time interval over which that change occurs, with possible units such as $\text{m/s}^2$.

Acceleration in Free-Fall

The acceleration experienced by an object in free-fall, which has a constant downward direction and same numerical magnitude whether going up or going down.

Negative Acceleration

Acceleration in the negative defined direction, which does NOT necessarily mean decreasing speed if velocity is also negative.

Average Human Walking Speed

The approximate average speed at which a human walks, specified as a numerical value with units.

Horizontal Projectiles in Free-Fall

When four objects are thrown horizontally at different speeds and air effects are neglected, all objects hit the ground at the same time because horizontal speed does not affect vertical fall time.

Aristotle's View on Free-Fall

Aristotle incorrectly thought heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects; his thinking was wrong because he neglected air resistance and did not recognize uniform gravitational acceleration.

Motion Diagram for a Ball on a Ramp

A sketch showing velocity vectors, acceleration, and changing spacing between equal time intervals as a ball rolls up and then down a ramp.

Ramp Races Key Factor

The factor determined by the shape of the track that affects how objects reach the bottom at different times.

Orbiting Earth

Satellites orbiting Earth are in continuous free-fall toward Earth while moving sideways fast enough to match Earth's curvature.

Rotational Speed

The rate of rotation measured in rotations or revolutions per unit of time (e.g., $\text{RPM}$ or $\text{rad/s}$).

Rotational Acceleration

The rate of change of rotational speed or axis direction, characterized by two observable changes during rotation.

Net Force in Direction of Velocity

When the net force is in the direction of velocity, the object's speed increases, and the direction of acceleration is the same as the direction of velocity.

Net Force Opposite Direction of Velocity

When the net force is opposite to the direction of velocity, the object's speed decreases, and the direction of acceleration is opposite to the direction of velocity.

Force

A push or pull interaction defined in physics by five essential points listed in the text.

Newton's Third Law of Motion

For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force, forming equal and opposite force pairs even when counterintuitive.

Law of Equilibrium

The principle stating that if the net force on an object is zero, it remains in its state of rest or constant velocity without coming to rest naturally on its own.

Free Body Diagram (F.B.D.)

A visual diagram representing an object and drawing all external forces acting upon it as vector arrows.

Mass

A measure of an object's inertia (resistance to acceleration) and amount of matter, measured in units like kilograms ($\text{kg}$); it is NOT weight.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

More force causes a more abrupt acceleration, and more mass results in less acceleration for a given force ($F_{net} = m a$).

Snowboarding Elephant

The named character example used in Chapter 3 physics illustrations.

Net Force in Newton's First vs. Second Law

In Newton's First Law the net force is zero ($\Sigma F = 0$), whereas in Newton's Second Law the net force is non-zero ($\Sigma F = m a$).

Free-Fall Acceleration of Unequal Masses

When two objects of very different mass are dropped without air resistance, they hit the ground at the same time because gravitational force is proportional to mass while inertia resists it equally.

Proof of Gravity's Pull via Newton's Second Law

Demonstrates that since objects accelerate when dropped, by Newton's Second Law ($F_{net} = m a$) there MUST be an unbalanced downward force pulling them (gravity).

Weight

The downward gravitational force experienced by an object, given by the equation $W = m g$.

Moon's Motion

The Moon continuously orbits Earth in free-fall, accelerating toward Earth due to gravitational force.

Force on an Object in Orbit

An object in orbit experiences a centripetal gravitational force that causes it to accelerate continuously toward the center of orbit.

Universal Gravitation

The law stating that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Newton's Laws for Rotation

The three rotational analogs to Newton's laws of motion governing rotational inertia, rotational acceleration from torque, and action-reaction torque pairs.

Torque

The rotational equivalent of linear force that causes an object to undergo rotational acceleration, calculated as force applied times the perpendicular lever arm distance.