AP Physics 1 Vocabulary Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the AP Physics 1 Kinematics, Forces, Energy, Momentum, Rotation, and Oscillation units.

Scalar

Magnitude only (positive value). Examples: distance, speed, time

Vector

Magnitude and direction (positive or negative sign or arrow). Examples: displacement, velocity, acceleration

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity. It can involve speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

Normal Force

Perpendicular push from a surface. Determines apparent weight.

Static Friction

Friction that prevents an object from starting to move.

Kinetic Friction

Friction that opposes the motion of a moving object.

Newton's Third Law

Every force has an equal and opposite force. All forces come in pairs that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Newton's First Law

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

Newton's Second Law

The sum of the forces (net force) is equal to mass times acceleration. F=ma

Spring Constant (k)

A measure of a spring's stiffness, in N/m. Indicates how much force is required to stretch the spring by a meter.

Equilibrium Position

The point where the restorative force of a spring is zero. The force always pushes or pulls towards this position.

Centripetal Force

A force that is center-seeking, pointing towards the center of the circle in circular motion. It is not a new force, but rather a force of tension, friction etc.

Kinetic Energy (KE)

The energy of motion, always positive. KE = (1/2)mv^2

Work

The energy that is pushed into or out of a system. W = Fd cos(θ)

Conservative Force

A force where the work done is path-independent. Examples: Gravity, Spring Force

Non-Conservative Force

A force where the work done is path-dependent. Examples: Friction, Air Resistance

Power

The rate at which energy is transferred or converted. P = ΔE/Δt

Momentum (p)

A measure of how hard it is to stop an object. p = mv

Impulse (J)

The change in momentum. J = Δp = FnetΔt

Elastic Collision

A collision where kinetic energy is conserved. Objects separate after the collision.

Inelastic Collision

A collision where kinetic energy is not conserved, but momentum is conserved. Some energy is lost to heat, sound, or other forms.

Torque

A force that causes rotation or a twist. τ = rFsin(θ)

Moment of Inertia

A measure of an object's resistance to rotational motion. Depends on the object's shape and mass distribution.

Angular Momentum

A measure of an object's rotational momentum. L = rmv sin(θ)

Density

Mass per unit volume. ρ = m/V

Pressure

The perpendicular force divided by the area. P = F⊥/A

Buoyant Force

Equals the weight of the fluid displaced (Archimedes' principle). Fb = ρVg

Escape Velocity

The speed at which an object must travel to move away from a planet without being pulled back by its gravitational force. v = sqrt(2GM/R)

Simple Harmonic Motion

Repetitive motion around an equilibrium position.