exam 1 physics

Quantity

A property of an object or substance that can be measured or calculated from other measurements.

Velocity

Measures how fast something is going; distance per time.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity; how fast speed or velocity changes.

Force

A push or pull on an object.

Pressure

Force divided by the area over which it is applied.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object.

Time

The duration during which an action or process occurs.

Length

The one-dimensional extent of an object.

Area

The two-dimensional extent of a surface; the size of a surface.

Volume

The three-dimensional extent of an object.

Fundamental Quantities

Quantities that cannot be easily defined using other quantities.

Derived Quantities

Quantities that are combinations of fundamental quantities.

Inertia

The property of an object to resist changes in its motion.

Newton's Second Law

The sum of the forces on the object equals mass of the object times acceleration.

Net Force

The overall force acting on an object, considering all acting forces.

Newton's First Law

An object in motion will remain in motion and an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Work

Force applied on an object multiplied by the distance the object moves in the direction of the force.

Energy

The capacity to do work.

Kinetic Energy

Energy related to motion.

Potential Energy

Energy related to position.

Wavelength

The distance between wave crests.

Amplitude

The maximum displacement from equilibrium in a wave.

Superposition

The principle that states waves can overlap and combine.

Constructive Interference

Occurs when crest meets crest, resulting in increased amplitude.

Destructive Interference

Happens when crest meets trough, effectively cancelling the wave.

Longitudinal Waves

Pressure waves that require a medium to propagate.

Sound Waves

Generated by longitudinal pressure waves and travel faster in liquids and solids.

Newton (N)

Unit of measurement for force.

Pascal (Pa)

Unit of measurement for pressure.

Kilograms (kg)

Unit of measurement for mass.

Seconds (s)

Unit of measurement for time.

Meters (m)

Unit of measurement for length.

Meters squared (m²)

Unit of measurement for area.

Cubic meters (m³)

Unit of measurement for volume.

Meters per second (m/s)

Unit of measurement for velocity.

Meters per second squared (m/s²)

Unit of measurement for acceleration.

Joules (J)

Unit of measurement for work.

Distance Traveled

The total path covered by an object in motion.

Time Taken

The duration necessary to complete an action or process.

Final Velocity (U_f)

The velocity of an object at the end of a time interval.

Initial Velocity (V_i)

The velocity of an object at the start of a time interval.

Rest

A state where an object is not in motion.

Constant Velocity

Movement at a fixed speed in a straight line.

Stationary

A condition where an object is not moving.

Medium

A substance through which sound waves travel.