Physics

Free Body Diagram

A diagram that shows all of the external forces acting on a single object.

Example: These diagrams are used to solve force problems.

Period (T)

The time it takes a wave to complete one cycle

Example: The units of period are seconds

Longitudinal Waves

Oscillation are parallel to the direction of wave propagation

• An example is sound wave

Power

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred

• P = W/t, and the units are Watts

Flow Rate (Q)

The volume of fluid that is moving per unit time

• Has units: m³/s

Tranverse Waves

Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation

• An example is light waves

Radiation

Heat transfer using electromagnetic waves

• Can occur with a vacuum or transparent solids, liquids, and gases.

Ohm’s Law

V = IR

• This equation relates voltage, current, and resistance within a circuit

Frequency (f)

The number of waves cycles completed per second

• The units are Hertz

• 1/s

Wave Cycle

The interval required to return to the same point in a wave

• The same point is based on position or motion and is accomplished in 1 period of the wave

Scalars

Physical quantities that have only magnitude

• No direction included

Kinetic Energy

Energy due to motion of an object

KE = ½ mv²

Units are joules

Ammeter

It’s a device used to measure current

The device is connected in series with the portion of the circuit where current needs to be determined.

Ammeter have a low resistance

Viscous Flow

Fluids that have some resistance to fluid flow

Include honey and blood, but not water.

Acceleration-Time Graph

Describes the acceleration of an object over a particular time interval

If an object is traveling at a constant velocity, the acceleration graph would be a flat line at zero

Vibrational Motion

Object is vibrating back and forth

This movement can produce kinetic energy

Watts (W)

Equivalent to joules/second

Kg.m²/s³

Describes Power

Work

W is positive when work is done on the system

W is negative when work is done by the system

• This term involves a change in volume

Buoyant Force

The buoyant force is the net upward force resulting from the difference in pressure above and below an object in a fluid

The buoyant force is directly proportional to the object’s density, the volume displaced by the object

F_{B =}p fluid^Vsub g

Thermodynamic System

Includes a system, which is what we are interested in, and the surroundings, which includes everything else.

• This separation into system and surroundings is a helpful tool for analyzing thermodynamics systems

Wave

A disturbance that transfer energy through matter or space

• waves consist of oscillations of a physical medium or field and do not transfer matter.