Physics Basics on Forces, Motion, and Waves

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on forces, motion, waves, and electromagnetism, providing a comprehensive review for exam preparation.

What is a vector quantity?

A quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction.

What unit is force measured in?

Force is measured in Newtons (N).

What type of force requires objects to touch?

Contact forces require objects to touch for the forces to be exerted.

What is friction?

A force that works in the opposite direction to movement.

What is air resistance?

A force that works in the opposite direction to movement through the air.

Define normal contact force.

The force exerted by a surface on an object resting on it.

What does tension refer to in the context of forces?

The force in an object being stretched.

What is drag?

Friction acting on an object moving through water or air.

What are non-contact forces?

Forces that do not require objects to touch in order to exert force.

What is the formula for weight?

Weight (W) is calculated using the formula W = m x g, where m is mass and g is acceleration due to gravity.

What does Newton's First Law state?

An object will remain stationary or at constant speed and direction unless acted upon by a resultant force.

What is inertia?

The tendency of objects to continue in their state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by a resultant force.

What is the resultant force when multiple forces act on an object?

The single effect of combining all acting forces, calculated by adding or subtracting the forces depending on their direction.

How can you resolve a single force into two component forces?

By drawing a scaled vector diagram, completing a right-angled triangle, and measuring the components.

What happens when a spring is stretched within the limit of proportionality?

The extension is directly proportional to the force applied.

What is the formula for elastic potential energy?

Elastic potential energy = 0.5 x spring constant x extension².

How do velocity-time graphs depict the state of motion?

The gradient (slope) of the graph represents acceleration.

Define displacement.

Displacement is a vector quantity representing the distance and direction from the starting point to the endpoint.

What does momentum indicate in physics?

Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, a vector quantity.

What is terminal velocity?

The constant speed reached by an object when the force of gravity is balanced by air resistance.

What is refraction?

The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium into another due to a change in speed.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A range of electromagnetic waves categorized by wavelength and frequency.

How does a solenoid create a magnetic field?

When electricity flows through a coiled wire, it generates a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet.

What does Fleming's Left Hand Rule indicate?

It predicts the direction of force experienced by a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.