General Science: Physics Principles, Motion, Ergonomics, and Machines

Vocabulary flashcards covering introductory physics applications, motion types, biomechanics, ergonomics, and machines based on general science lecture content.

Dr. Caesar Saloma

A Filipino physicist and recipient of the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award who advanced the fields of optics and signal processing.

Liter of Light Project

A Philippine innovation that uses plastic bottles filled with water and bleach installed in roofs to refract and diffuse sunlight, providing zero-electricity interior lighting.

Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

A CERN research facility utilizing particle physics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics to explore fundamental forces and discover the Higgs boson.

Photovoltaic Cell

A device used in solar-powered systems to convert sunlight directly into direct current (DC) electricity through energy transformation.

Electroluminescence

The process by which LED light bulbs convert electrical energy directly into light rather than heat, maximizing energy efficiency.

Mechanical Advantage

The principle of multiplying force or reducing human effort through mechanical tools like levers, pulleys, and inclined planes to increase work efficiency.

Passive Ventilation

A natural cooling method inspired by traditional bahay kubo architecture that uses convection currents to cool interior spaces without using mechanical energy.

Piezoelectric Materials

Materials embedded in flooring tiles, such as those used on pedestrian overpasses in Cebu, that convert mechanical pressure from human footsteps into electrical energy.

Kulintang Ensemble

A traditional Philippine musical ensemble whose instrument materials, sizes, and shapes produce sound based on acoustic principles of wave resonance and natural frequency.

Translational Motion

The movement of an object from one location to another where every part of the object moves the same distance in the same direction.

Rotational Motion

The movement that occurs when an object spins or turns in place around a fixed axis of rotation.

Displacement

A vector quantity representing the straight-line change in position from an object's starting point to its ending point.

Angular Displacement ($\theta$)

A measurement describing how far an object has rotated from its starting position, defined by the ratio of arc length to radius ($s/r$).

Momentum

A vector quantity measuring an object's motion and its resistance to stopping, calculated as the product of mass and velocity ($p = mv$).

Kinetic Chain

The sequential transfer of energy and rotation through body segments—such as the pelvis, trunk, shoulder, and arm—to maximize the linear speed of an extremity.

Kuda Serve

A Sepak Takraw serve utilizing greater hip flexion and trunk rotation at ball contact to generate faster ball speeds averaging around $22.8\,\text{m/s}$.

Anthropometry

The scientific study and measurement of human body dimensions used in ergonomic design to ensure proper reach zones, safety, and fit.

Silyang Pinoy

A multifunctional school furniture set made from engineered bamboo by DOST-FPRDI that converts from a chair-and-table set into a bed for evacuation centers.

Lever-type Door Handle

An ergonomic door handle design that converts linear downward force into angular motion, requiring less wrist rotation and effort compared to round doorknobs.

Simple Machine

A tool with few or no moving parts that makes work easier by changing the size or direction of an applied force.

Compound Machine

A machine made up of two or more simple machines working together to perform multiple functions faster and more effectively.

Efficiency

The percentage of work input that is converted into useful work output, calculated as $\text{Efficiency} = \left(\frac{\text{Work Output}}{\text{Work Input}}\right) \times 100\%$.

Wedge

A simple machine consisting of two inclined planes placed back-to-back used to split, cut, or hold objects in place.

Windlass

A compound machine that combines a wheel and axle with a crank (lever) to lift or pull heavy loads by winding a rope or cable around a drum.