Basic physic concepts Flashcards
Scalars
Magnitude i.e. mass, time
Vectors
magnitude with direction i.e. velocity, acceleration, force
Newton’s 1st law
Law of inertia
- Any change in speed or change in direction changes inertia
- proportional to mass. Bowling ball has more inertia than tennis ball
Newton’s 2nd Law
F=ma
- Constant force increases velocity, not acceleration
Newton’s 3rd Law
Action-Reaction
- Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Distance
total distance traveled (scalar)
Displacement
Shortest distance between point A and B.
Speed
Rate of change of distance (scalar)
Velocity
Rate of change of displacement (vector)
“Consant velocity” or “constant speed”
- no acceleration
- no net force
- all forces sum to zero
- no change in direction
- object is in equilibrium
Systems in equilibrium
How to solve:
- Make two columns depciting opposite forces
- write all forces in applicable column
- add up each column and set equal to each other
- solve for unknown
Acceleration
Changes in objects velocity in relation to time.
Potential vs. Kinetic energy
PE: potential something has (height of object)
KE: energy of motion
- Both are in equilibrium. As object falls from specific height, PE decreases and KE increases.
Archimedes’ Principle
The amount of liquid that object displaces is directly proportional to the volume of the portion of the object that is submerged.
Buoyant Force
Fbuoy = pvg
v= fluid displaced g=gravity p=density of the fluid
Apparent Weight (AW) = Actual Weight (aW) - Buoyant Force (Fbuoy)
- only applies to objects that are fully submerged
