Definitions to remember Flashcards
definition of base unit
stand alone units from which other units are derived.
definition of a derived unit
products or quotients of base units
definition of scalar quantity
quantity that has magnitude only
definition of vector quantity
quantity that has magnitude and direction
definition of systemic error
an error that causes the readings to have a constant deviation from either sides of the actual readings.
definition of random error
an error that causes the readings to scatter around the mean value.
definition of distance
the total path traveled
definition of displacement
the shortest distance between the starting point and the end point.
definition of speed
the total distance traveled divided by the time taken
definition of velocity
the rate of change of displacement
definition of acceleration
the rate of change of velocity
definition of mass
- property of a body resisting changes in motion
2. quantity of matter in a body
definition of newtons first law
a body continues at rest or constant velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force
definition of newtons second law
the rate of change of momentum is proportional to the resultant force and is acting in the same direction as the resultant force.
definition of newtons third law
if body A exerts a force on body B, Body B will exert a force with an equal magnitude on body A but in opposite direction.
definition of momentum
product of mass and velocity
definition of principle of conservation of momentum
the total momentum of an isolated system of bodies is constant.
definition of force
rate of change of momentum
definition of conditions for equilibrium
- zero resultant force in any direction
2. zero resultant moment about any point
definition of center of gravity
the point on the body where the weight of the object is considered to act on.
definition of moment
the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the point of moment to the line of action of force.
definition of couple
a pair of parallel forces with the same magnitude but are opposite in directions and they are not in line.
Definition of torque
product of one of the force of a couple and the perpendicular distance between the pair of forces.
definition of work done
the product of the force and the perpendicular distance of the force
definition of energy
the ability to do work
definition of power
the rate of work done
definition of kinetic energy
energy an object has due to its motion
definition of gravitational potential energy
energy a mass stored due to it position in a gravitational field
definition of elastic potential energy
energy stored in a body due to its deformation
definition of efficiency
useful output power divided by input power
definition of density
mass divided by volume
definition of pressure
product of force and area normal to the force
Hooke’s Law
the extension is directly proportional to the force being applied given that it doesn’t exceed the limit of proportionality.
definition of stress
force per unit cross-sectional area
definition of strain
change in length per unit original length
definition of the young modulus
stress divided by strain
definition of amplitude
maximum displacement from equilibrium position
definition of wavelength
- minimum distance between two points having the same displacement and moving in the same direction
- distance moved by a wave front during one period
- distance between two adjacent wave fronts
definition of frequency
- number of oscillations per unit time
2. number of wavefronts moving through a point per unit time
definition of period
time taken by a particle to complete one oscillation
definition of intensity
rate of energy transfer per unit area
definition of transverse wave
a wave on which the oscillation of particles are perpendicular to the direction of propagation
definition of longitudinal wave
a wave on which the oscillation of particles are parallel to the direction of propagation
definition of difrcation
spreading of a wave to its geometrical shadow when it passes through a slit.
the principle of super position
whwn two or more waves meet at a point, the resultant displacement is the sum of the individual displacements of each wave.
definition of Coherent sources
sources of waves with constant phase
Definition of Electrical fields
a region in space where a charge experiences an electrical force .
definition of charge
product of current and time
definition of colooumb
ampere per second
definiotn of volt
joule / coulomb
definiotn of ohm
volt / ampere
definition of potential fdifference
energy per unit charge converted from electrical energy to other forms of energy.
definition of e.m.f
energy per unit charge converted from other forms of energy to electrical energy
definition of resistance
the ratio of p.d to current
Kircchof’s 1st law
the algebraic sum of currents at a junction is zero / the sum of current entering a junction is equal to the sum of current exiting the junction
Kircchof’s 2nd law
in a close lop of circuit, the algebraic sum of potential difference is equal to the algebraic sum of e.m.f
