Physics Semester Review

Direct Current

(DC) is a type of electrical current that flows consistently in one direction, often used in battery-powered devices.

Mechanical Waves

are disturbances that transfer energy through a medium, such as sound waves or water waves.

Electromagnetic Waves

are waves that can travel through a vacuum and are composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, including radio waves, microwaves, and visible light.

Series Circuits

are electrical circuits in which components are connected along a single path, so the same current flows through all components.

Parallel Circuits

are electrical circuits in which components are connected across common points or junctions, allowing multiple pathways for current to flow.

Doppler Effect

is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source, commonly experienced with sound waves as pitch changes.

Newtons 1st Law

states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by a net external force.

Newtons Second Law

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

Newtons Third Law

states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, meaning forces always act in pairs.

Law of universal Gravitation

describes the gravitational attraction between two masses, which is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

Frequency (waves)

is the number of cycles or oscillations that occur in a given time period, typically measured in Hertz (Hz). It indicates how often a wave repeats itself in one second.

Amplitude (waves)

is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position, indicating the energy and intensity of the wave.

Refraction

is the bending of light or other waves as they pass from one medium to another, caused by a change in their speed.

Reflection

is the change in direction of a wave when it bounces off a surface. This phenomenon occurs when the wave encounters a medium or surface that does not absorb all of its energy.

Interference

is the phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves overlap and combine to form a new wave pattern, affecting amplitude and phase.