AP Physics C Mechanics Vocabulary
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188 Terms
Kinematics
The study of motion without considering the forces that cause it
Position
The location of an object relative to a reference point
Displacement
The change in position from initial to final location
Distance
The total path length traveled
Velocity
The rate of change of position with direction
Speed
The magnitude of velocity
Average Velocity
Total displacement divided by total time
Instantaneous Velocity
Velocity at a specific moment in time
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity
Average Acceleration
Change in velocity divided by total time
Instantaneous Acceleration
Acceleration at a specific moment in time
Free Fall
Motion under the influence of gravity only
Projectile Motion
Two dimensional motion under constant gravitational acceleration
Horizontal Motion
Motion parallel to the ground with constant velocity
Vertical Motion
Motion perpendicular to the ground with constant acceleration
Trajectory
The path followed by a projectile
Range
The horizontal distance traveled by a projectile
Maximum Height
The highest vertical point reached by a projectile
Relative Velocity
Velocity measured with respect to another moving object
Frame of Reference
The coordinate system from which motion is observed
Inertial Frame
A reference frame where Newtons laws hold
Noninertial Frame
An accelerating frame where fictitious forces appear
Newton First Law
An object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a net force
Newton Second Law
Net force equals mass times acceleration
Newton Third Law
Every force has an equal and opposite reaction force
Net Force
The vector sum of all forces acting on an object
Mass
The measure of inertia of an object
Inertia
Resistance to changes in motion
Weight
The force of gravity acting on an object
Normal Force
The support force exerted by a surface
Tension
The pulling force transmitted through a string or rope
Friction
A force that opposes relative motion between surfaces
Static Friction
Friction that prevents motion between surfaces
Kinetic Friction
Friction that opposes sliding motion
Coefficient of Friction
A constant relating frictional force to normal force
Spring Force
The restoring force exerted by a spring
Drag Force
A resistive force from motion through a fluid
Equilibrium
A state in which net force is zero
Translational Equilibrium
No net force and no linear acceleration
Constraint Force
A force that restricts motion in a system
Work
Energy transferred by a force acting through a displacement
Kinetic Energy
The energy of motion
Potential Energy
Stored energy due to position or configuration
Gravitational Potential Energy
Energy stored due to height in a gravitational field
Elastic Potential Energy
Energy stored in a stretched or compressed spring
Work Energy Theorem
Net work equals the change in kinetic energy
Conservative Force
A force whose work is path independent
Nonconservative Force
A force whose work depends on path
Mechanical Energy
The sum of kinetic and potential energy
Conservation of Energy
Total energy remains constant in an isolated system
Power
The rate at which work is done
Instantaneous Power
The rate of energy transfer at a specific moment
Momentum
Mass times velocity
Linear Momentum
The quantity of motion of an object
Impulse
Force multiplied by time equal to change in momentum
Impulse Momentum Theorem
Impulse equals change in momentum
Conservation of Momentum
Total momentum remains constant in an isolated system
Center of Mass
The average position of mass in a system
System
A collection of objects treated as one unit
Internal Force
A force between objects within a system
External Force
A force exerted on a system by something outside it
Collision
An interaction where objects exert large forces over short times
Elastic Collision
A collision in which momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
Inelastic Collision
A collision in which momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not
Perfectly Inelastic Collision
A collision in which objects stick together after impact
Explosion
An event where one object separates into multiple pieces due to internal forces
Rotation
Motion about an axis
Angular Position
The rotational location of an object
Angular Displacement
The change in angular position
Angular Velocity
The rate of change of angular position
Angular Acceleration
The rate of change of angular velocity
Rigid Body
An object whose shape does not deform
Torque
The rotational equivalent of force
Lever Arm
The perpendicular distance from axis to line of force
Moment Arm
Another term for lever arm
Moment of Inertia
Rotational inertia depending on mass distribution
Rotational Inertia
Resistance to angular acceleration
Rotational Equilibrium
Net torque equals zero
Newton Second Law for Rotation
Net torque equals moment of inertia times angular acceleration
Angular Momentum
Rotational equivalent of linear momentum
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Total angular momentum remains constant if net external torque is zero
Rotational Kinetic Energy
The energy of rotational motion
Rolling Motion
Combined translational and rotational motion
Rolling Without Slipping
Rolling where the point of contact has zero relative velocity
Axis of Rotation
The line about which an object rotates
Simple Harmonic Motion
Periodic motion with restoring force proportional to displacement
Oscillation
Repetitive back and forth motion
Amplitude
Maximum displacement from equilibrium
Period
Time for one complete cycle
Frequency
Number of cycles per unit time
Angular Frequency
Rate of oscillation in radians per second
Phase
The position in a cycle at a given time
Phase Constant
Initial phase angle in oscillatory motion
Restoring Force
A force that returns a system to equilibrium
Hooke Law
Spring force is proportional to displacement and opposite in direction
Spring Constant
A measure of spring stiffness
Pendulum
A mass swinging under gravity
Simple Pendulum
A point mass suspended from a massless string
Physical Pendulum
A rigid body oscillating about a pivot
Damping
Loss of energy causing oscillations to decrease