Physics Unit 1 Variable Terms

position

x; m

velocity

speed with direction; displacement over time; m/s

average velocity

total displacement over total time interval; Vavg; m/s

displacement

final position - initial position; how far an object ends from its starting position; Δx; m

distance

total length traveled; d; m

acceleration

rate of change of velocity; a; m/s²

gravitational field strength

all objects with mass create a gravitational field; g; m/s² or N/kg

time interval

t₁ - t₀; Δt; s

force

a push or pull; causes acceleration if unbalanced; F; N

mass

resistance to change in motion; m; kg

coefficient of friction

dependent on materials only; μ; no units

spring constant

stiffness of spring; k; N/m

compression/stretch of spring from equilibrium

Δx (springs); m

static friction

the force that must be overcome to make an object move; the type of friction that prevents an object from slipping; Fs; N

kinetic friction

the friction between surfaces during motion; slows an object down; Fk; N

force of gravity

acting on mass; weight of an object; Fg; N

normal force

force from a surface; always perpendicular to the surface; FN; N

force of tension

always pulls; FT; N

equilibrium

net force = zero; balanced forces; no symbol or units