IEB definitions: Physics Flashcards
vector
physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction
scalar
a physical quantity that has magnitude only
resultant vector
the single vector which has the same effect as the original vectors acting together
distance
length of path travelled
displacement
change in position
speed
rate of change of distance
velocity
rate of displacement
acceleration
rate of change of velocity
work done on an object by a force
the product of displacement and the component of the force parallel to the displacement
gravitational potential energy
position relative to a reference point
kinetic energy
the energy an object has as a result of the objects motion
mechanical energy
the sum of the gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy at a point
law of conservation of energy
the total energy in a system cannot be created nor destroyed; only transformed from one form to another
principle of conservation of mechanical energy
in the absence of air resistance or any external forces, the mechanical energy of an object is constant
work done by a net force on an object is equal to :
the change in the kinetic energy of the object - the work energy theorem (W=Fnet x S = delta Ek)
