Physics Semester 1 Final Exam Vocab

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable. It is the presumed cause in a cause-and-effect relationship.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured or observed in an experiment to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Slope

the steepness of a line.

Scalars

Quantities that have only magnitude, such as temperature or distance, without direction.

Vectors

Quantities that have both magnitude and direction, such as velocity or force.

Magnitude

the size or quantity of a physical property, often expressed as a non-negative value.

Direction

the path along which something moves or points, often specified in relation to a reference point.

Distance

the amount of space between something

Displacment

the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of an object, including direction.

Speed

the rate at which an object covers distance, calculated as distance divided by time.

Velocity

the speed of an object in a specific direction.

Kinematics

the branch of mechanics that describes the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion.

Dynamics

the branch of mechanics that deals with the forces and their effects on motion.

Average Velocity

the total displacement divided by the total time taken.

Acceleration

the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time.

Acceleration due to gravity

the acceleration of an object caused by the gravitational force of the Earth, approximately 10m/s²

Newtons 1st Law

states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force.

Inertia

the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

Newtons 2nd Law

states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass, commonly expressed as F=ma.

Mass

the quantity of matter in an object, which affects its resistance to acceleration when a force is applied.

Kilogram

a measument unit used in physics

Newton

the force required to accelerate one kilogram of mass at one meter per second squared.

Force

an interaction that causes an object to change its velocity, measured in Newtons.

Net Force

the overall force acting on an object when all individual forces are combined.

Magnitude

the size or quantity of a force, often represented as a scalar value.

Weight

the force exerted on an object due to gravity, calculated as the product of mass and gravitational acceleration.

Free Fall

the motion of an object under the influence of gravity alone, with no other forces acting on it.

Air resistance

the frictional force air exerts on a moving object, opposing its motion.

Terminal Velocity

the constant speed an object reaches when the force of air resistance equals the weight of the object, resulting in no further acceleration.

Newtons 3rd Law

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Action Force

the initial force exerted by one object on another in an interaction.

Reaction Force

the force exerted by the second object in response to the action force, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Equalibrium

A state in which all forces acting on an object are balanced, resulting in no net force or change in motion.

Friction

the force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in contact.

Normal Force

the support force exerted by a surface that acts perpendicular to the object in contact with it.