1st Qtr Flashcards
Light-Year
Definition: The distance light travels in one year.
Example: 1 light-year = 9.46 trillion kilometers (5.88 trillion miles).
Format ax10^n
Definition: A method of expressing large or small numbers using powers of ten.
Example: 1sa<10 and n is an integer.
Systematic Error
Definition: Consistent, repeatable errors due to calibration issues or measurement bias.
Unpredictable errors are caused by limitations in measurement precision.
Variance Equation
Formula: Variance = (v - t)^2 where v: Measured value, t: True value, N: Number of measurements.
Vector Quantities
Definition: Have both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force).
Scalar Quantities
Definition: Have magnitude only (e.g., temperature, mass).
Resultant of Two Perpendicular Vectors
Definition: The sum of two vectors at right angles.
Magnitude Formula: R = sqrt(A^2 + B^2) where A and B: Magnitudes of the vectors.
Components of a Vector
Horizontal Component: Vx = V cos(theta)
Vertical Component: Vy = V sin(theta)
Displacement
Definition: The shortest distance between the initial and final position of an object; a vector quantity.
Equation for Motion with Constant Acceleration
Formula: Vf = Vi + at where Vf: Final velocity, Vi: Initial velocity, a: Acceleration, t: Time.
Inertial Motion
Definition: Motion at constant velocity; no net external force.
Accelerated Motion
Definition: Change in velocity over time due to net force.
Apparent and True Weight
Apparent Weight: Weight felt by a person in an accelerating reference frame (e.g., inside an elevator).
True Weight: Weight due to gravity alone.
Projectile Motion
Definition: Motion of an object thrown into the air, affected by gravity.
Trajectory is a parabolic path due to the influence of gravity.
Uniform Circular Motion (UCM)
Definition: Motion of an object traveling in a circular path at constant speed.
Centripetal Acceleration is directed toward the center of the circular path.
Newton’s Laws of Motion
First Law: An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion unless acted upon by a net force.
Second Law: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to its mass.
Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Newton’s 2nd Law Equation
Formula: Fnet = ma where Fnet: Net force, m: Mass, a: Acceleration.
Free-Body Diagram (FBD)
Definition: A diagram showing all forces acting on an object.
For a body with constant velocity, the net force is zero.
Kinetic and Static Friction
Kinetic Friction: Friction acting on an object in motion.
Static Friction: Friction preventing motion until a certain threshold.
Work and Power
Work (W): Energy transfer due to force acting over a distance.
Formula: W = Fd cos(theta)
Power (P): Rate of doing work.
Formula: P = W/t
Work-Energy Theorem (WET)
Definition: The work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.
Application of WET to a Satellite in Orbit
Understanding: The work-energy principle applied to orbital mechanics, considering gravitational forces.
