Science 10 Unit B: Physics Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic kinematics, dynamics, energy, and thermodynamics as derived from the Science 10 Unit B lecture notes.

Uniform Motion

Movement at a constant rate in the same direction.

Average Speed ($v$)

A change in distance ($d$) over a given time interval ($t$).

Scalar Quantity

A measurement that has a magnitude (size) only, with no direction associated with it, such as time, mass, distance, or speed.

Vector Quantity

A measurement that has both magnitude and direction, such as displacement, velocity, force, or acceleration.

Distance

The total length an object moved; calculated as the sum of all portions of the trip.

Displacement

A vector quantity representing the separation between an object and its starting point or a reference point.

Magnitude

The amount, number, or size of a value, independent of direction.

Velocity ($v$)

A vector quantity representing the change in position during a specific time interval.

Acceleration ($a$)

A change in velocity during a given time interval, indicating that an object is speeding up or slowing down.

Slope of a Distance-Time Graph

This value represents the speed of the object.

Slope of a Position-Time Graph

This value represents the velocity of the object.

Area under a Speed-Time Graph

This value represents the total distance travelled by the object.

Slope of a Velocity-Time Graph

This value represents the acceleration of the object.

Acceleration due to Gravity ($g$)

A constant value for falling objects on Earth, equal to $9.81\,m/s^2$ [down].

Positive Acceleration

Occurs when an object is speeding up in a positive direction or slowing down in a negative direction.

Negative Acceleration

Occurs when an object is speeding up in a negative direction or slowing down in a positive direction.

Force ($F$)

An influence measured in Newtons ($N$) that can transfer energy between objects or convert energy from one form to another.

Mass

The amount of matter that makes up an object, measured in $kg$.

Weight

The force exerted on an object by gravity, measured in $N$.

Work ($W$)

The transfer of energy from one object to another or the conversion of energy from one form to another, calculated as force multiplied by distance ($W = Fd$).

Energy

The ability to do work, measured in Joules ($J$).

Kinetic Energy ($E_k$)

Energy due to the motion of an object, calculated as $Ek = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

Potential Energy ($E_p$)

Energy stored in an object due to its state or its position.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy stored in an object because of its position above the ground, calculated as $Ep = mgh$.

Mechanical Energy ($E_m$)

The total energy of a system, representing the sum of kinetic and potential energy ($E_m = E_k + E_p$).

First Law of Thermodynamics

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

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The principle stating that heat always flows from hot to cold, meaning no energy conversion process is $100\%$ efficient.

Efficiency

A measurement of how much energy input a machine converts into useful energy output.

Perpetual Motion Machine

A hypothetical machine that would convert $100\%$ of its input energy into desired output energy without any loss to heat.

Solar Energy Sources

Energy sources derived directly or indirectly from the Sun, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and fossil fuels.

Non-Solar Energy Sources

Energy sources with no relationship to the Sun, specifically geothermal, tidal, and nuclear energy.

Renewable Energy

Energy sources that can be replaced or are infinitely available, such as solar, wind, and hydro.

Non-renewable Energy

Energy sources that are limited and finite, such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy.