Chapter 1 Test: The Science of Physics Flashcards
The goal of physics is:
To use a smaller number of basic concepts, equations, and assumptions to describe the physical world.
Types of problems that deal with Physics:
- Temperature
- Size
- Motion
- Position
- Shape
- Color
Mechanics
motion & its causes, interactions between objects.
Thermodynamics
heat & temperature
Vibrations & wave phenomena
specific types of repetitive motions
Optics
Light
Electromagnetism
Electricity, magnetism, and light
Relativity
Particles moving at any speed including very high speeds
Quantum Mechanics
Behavior or submicroscopic particles
The Scientific Method:
- Make observations and collect data that lead to a question
- Formulate and objectively test hypothesis by experiments
- Interpret results and revise the hypothesis if necessary.
- State conclusions in a form that can be evaluated by others.
A pattern, plan, representation, or description designed to show the structure of workings of an object, system, or concept.
Models
A set of particles or interacting components considered to be a distinct physical entity for the purpose of the study.
System
An explanation that is based on prior scientific research of observations and can be tested.
Hypothesis
An experiment that tests only one factor at a time by using a comparison of a control group with an experimental group.
Controlled Experiment
The description of what kind of physical quantity is represented by a certain measurement is called ______.
dimension
The description of how much of a physical quantity is represented by a certain numerical measurement depends on the _____ with which the quantity is measured.
units
___ is the standard measurement system for science. This system of units is called _________________.
System International Units
Unit: Meter
Used to measure: Length
Unit: Kilogram
Used to measure: Mass
Unit: Second
Used to measure: Time
SI uses _____ to accommodate extremes (very large or very small quantities.)
prefixes
Prefix: atto
Power: 10^-18
Abbreviation: a
Prefix: femto
Power: 10^-15
Abbreviation: f
Prefix: pico
Power: 10^-12
Abbreviation: p
Prefix: nano
Power: 10^-9
Abb. n
Prefix: micro
Power: 10^-6
Abb. the weird “u”
Prefix: milli
Power: 10^-3
Abb. m
Prefix: centi
Power: 10^-2
Abb: c
Prefix: deci
Power: 10^-1
Abb. d
Prefix: deka
Power: 10^1
Abb. da
Prefix: kilo
Power: 10^3
Abb. k
Prefix: mega
10^6
M
Prefix: giga
10^9
G
Prefix: tera
10^12
T
Prefix: peta
10^15
P
A description of how close a measurement is to the correct or accepted value of the quantity measured.
Accuracy
The degree of exactness of a measurement
Precision
A numeric measure of confidence in a measurement or result is known as ______.
uncertainty
A _____ uncertainty indicates ______ confidence
lower; greater
When error in an experiment occurs due to different methods used to take measurements, this is called _______ ________.
method error
Those digits in a measurement that are known with certainty plus the first digit that’s uncertain.
Significant Figures
Rules for Determining Sig Figs
- Zeros between other nonzero digits are significant
- Zeroes in front of nonzero digits aren’t significant.
- Zeros that are at the end of a number and also to the right of the decimal are significant.
- Zeros at the end of a number but to the left of a decimal are significant if they have been measured or are the first estimated digit; otherwise they aren’t significant.
How many sig figs 300 000 000 m/s
1
How many sig figs 3.00 x 10^8m/s
3
25.030 C
5
0.006070 C
4
1.004 J
4
1.30520 MHz
6
Tools that make data easier to understand:
- Tables
- Graphs
- Equations
To make expressions as simple as possible, physicists often use _____ to describe specific quantities in an equation.
letters
______ _______ makes use of the fact that dimensions can be treated as algebraic quantities, meaning quantities can be “used” together only if they have the same dimensions.
Dimensional Analysis
Because the scope of physics is so wide and the numbers can be very large or very small, it is often useful to estimate an answer to a problem before trying to solve the problem exactly. This method is called an _____-___-_________.
order-of-magnitude
QUANTITY:
change in vertical position
time interval
mass
SYMBOL UNITS UNIT ABBREVIATIONS
deltay meters m
deltat seconds s
m kilograms kg
