distance
the total length of the path traveled by an object. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it has only magnitude and no direction. It is measured in units such as meters, kilometers, or miles.
displacement
change in position of an object from its initial position to its final position. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. It is measured in units such as meters, kilometers, or miles and is represented by a vector with an arrow pointing from the initial position to the final position.
scalar quantities
physical quantities that have only magnitude and no direction. Examples include mass, temperature, time, speed, distance, energy, and power. Scalar quantities are represented by a single number and are usually measured in units such as kilograms, seconds, meters, and joules.
vector quantities
physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction. Examples include displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, and momentum. Vector quantities are represented by a vector, which is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Vectors are usually represented graphically as arrows, where the length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector and the direction of the arrow represents the direction of the vector.
position
location of an object relative to a chosen reference point. It is a vector quantity that can be described using distance and direction. Typically, a coordinate system is used to show where an object is located.
the difference between speed and velocity
a scalar quantity that refers to how fast an object is moving. Velocity is a vector quantity that refers to the rate at which an object changes its position.
acceleration
the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction.
uniform acceleration
when an object's acceleration is constant over time. This means that the object's velocity changes by the same amount in each unit of time.
non-uniform acceleration
when an object's acceleration changes over time. This means that the object's velocity changes by different amounts in each unit of time.
free fall
a special case of uniform acceleration where an object is falling under the influence of gravity.
the BIG FIVE equations of motion
a set of equations that describe the relationship between displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time for an object in uniformly accelerated motion. The equations are: v_f = v_i + at Δx = v_i t + (1/2)at^2 v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2aΔx Δx = (1/2)(v_f + v_i)t Δx = vt - (1/2)at^2
uniform circular motion
the motion of an object moving in a circular path at a constant speed. The object's velocity is constantly changing due to the change in direction of its motion.
the difference between speed and velocity in uniform circular motion
Although the speed may be constant, the velocity is not because the direction is always changing meaning that the velocity is always changing.
centripetal force
the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle. It is responsible for keeping the object moving in a circular path.
centripetal acceleration
what turns the velocity vectors to keep the object traveling in a circle. The magnitude of the centripetal acceleration depends on the object’s speed, v, and the radius of the circular path, r. a꜀ = v^2/r
the formula for centripetal force F = mv^2 / r
some examples of uniform circular motion
the motion of a car around a circular track, the motion of a satellite orbiting the Earth, and the motion of a ball on a string being swung in a circle.
the gravitational force
the force of attraction between two masses.
the formula for the gravitational force
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, where G is the gravitational constant (6.674 * 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2).
the electric force
the attractive or repulsive force between two charged objects.
the formula for electric force
F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2, where k is the Coulomb constant (9 * 10^9 N * m^2 / C^2).
gravitational acceleration
the acceleration experienced by an object due to the force of gravity. It is denoted by the symbol 'g' and is measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2).
the formula for gravitational acceleration
g = G * M / r^2, where G is the gravitational constant (6.674 * 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2), M is the mass of the object causing the gravitational force, and r is the distance between the object and the center of mass of the other object.
work
the transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied over a distance.
the formula for work
W = Fd, where W is work, F is force, and d is distance.
the formula for work when force is applied at an angle
W = Fd cos θ.
the unit of measurement for work
joules (J).
momentum
the degree of an object's opposition to a modification in motion. It is a vector quantity, indicating it has both size and direction. The momentum formula is p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.
impulse.
the change in momentum of an object over a given time period. It is the product of the force applied to an object and the time over which the force is applied. The formula for impulse is: J = FΔt, where J is impulse, F is the force applied, and Δt is the time interval over which the force is applied.
the law of conservation of linear momentum
the total momentum of a system of objects remains constant if no external forces act on the system. This means that the sum of the momenta of all the objects in the system before a collision is equal to the sum of the momenta of all the objects after the collision.
the three types of collisions
Elastic Collisions: In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved. Inelastic Collisions: In an inelastic collision, the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved. Perfectly Inelastic Collision: In a perfectly inelastic collision, the objects stick together and travel in the same direction.
simple harmonic motion
a type of periodic motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position and is directed towards it. The motion is periodic and repetitive.
the relationship between acceleration and displacement in SHM
The acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement and is always directed towards the equilibrium position.
the total mechanical energy of a system undergoing SHM
constant and is the sum of kinetic and potential energy. Total energy: E = 1/2 kA^2, Kinetic energy: K = 1/2 mv^2, Potential energy: U = 1/2 kx^2, where k is the spring constant, m is the mass, v is the velocity, and x is the displacement.
Uniform Circular Motion
The motion of an object moving in a circular path at a constant speed. The velocity is constantly changing due to the change in direction of its motion.
Centripetal Force
The force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle.
Centripetal Acceleration
The acceleration that turns the velocity vectors to keep an object traveling in a circle. It depends on the object’s speed, v, and the radius of the circular path, r. The formula for centripetal acceleration is a = v^2/r.
Formula for Centripetal Force
F = mv^2 / r, where F is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity of the object, and r is the radius of the circle.
Examples of Uniform Circular Motion
The motion of a car around a circular track, the motion of a satellite orbiting the Earth, and the motion of a ball on a string being swung in a circle.
Gravitational Force
The force of attraction between two masses. It is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. It is described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, where G is the gravitational constant (6.674 * 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2).
Electric Force
The attractive or repulsive force between two charged objects. It is proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. It is described by Coulomb's Law: F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2, where k is the Coulomb constant (9 * 10^9 N * m^2 / C^2).
Gravitational Acceleration
The acceleration experienced by an object due to the force of gravity. It is denoted by the symbol 'g' and is measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2). The formula for gravitational acceleration is g = G * M / r^2, where G is the gravitational constant (6.674 * 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2), M is the mass of the object causing the gravitational force, and r is the distance between the object and the center of mass of the other object.
Work
The application of force over a distance. It is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied over a distance. Work is a scalar quantity and is measured in units of J (joules). The formula for work is W = Fd, where W is work, F is force, and d is distance.
Formula for Work at an Angle
W = Fd cos θ, where θ is the angle between the force and the direction of m
Velocity formula
v = d/t
Acceleration formula
a = Δv/Δt
Newton's Second Law
F = ma
Gravitational force formula
Fg = G(m1m2)/r^2
Work formula
W = Fdcosθ
Kinetic energy formula
KE = (1/2)mv^2
Potential energy formula
PE = mgh
Total mechanical energy formula
E = KE + PE
Conservation of energy formula
Ei = Ef
Power formula
P = W/t
Impulse formula
J = FΔt
Momentum formula
p = mv
Conservation of momentum formula
pi = pf
Elastic collision formula
m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f
Inelastic collision formula
m1v1i + m2v2i = (m1 + m2)vf
Torque formula
τ = rFsinθ
Rotational kinematics formula
θ = (1/2)αt^2 + ωit
Moment of inertia formula
I = ∫r^2dm
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation formula
F = G(m1m2)/r^2
Coulomb's Law formula
F = k(q1q2)/r^2
Electric field formula
E = F/q
Electric potential energy formula
U = k(q1q2)/r
Capacitance formula
C = Q/V
Ohm's Law formula
V = IR
Resistance formula
R = ρl/A
Kirchhoff's Laws
Σi = 0 and ΣV = 0
Snell's Law formula
n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2
Index of refraction formula
n = c/v