Module 2- Foundations of physics Flashcards
Quantity
Property of an object or of a phenomenon that can be measured
Base units
One of seven units that form the building blocks of the SI measurement system
Prefix
A word of letter placed before another one e.g. 5 km = 5 x 10^3 m
Derived quantities
A quantity that comes from a combination of base units
Derived units
A unit used to represent a derived unit such as N for force
Scalar quantity
A quantity that has magnitude or size without direction
Vector quantity
A quantity that has magnitude or size with direction
Parallel
Vectors in the same line and direction
Resultant vector
A single vector that has the same effect as two or more vectors added together
antiparallel
Vectors in the same line but in opposite direction
Vector triangle
A triangle constructed to scale to determine the resultant of two vectors.
Pythagoras theorem
The square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides
Component
One of the two perpendicular vectors obtained by resolving a vector
Mass
The matter content of a body
Density
Mass per unit volume
Volume
Three-dimensional space occupied by a body
Distance
Length from one point to another
Speed
Distance travelled per unit time
Energy
Work done
Power
Energy converted or work done per unit time
Weight
Force acting downwards through a body due to gravity
Pressure
Force per unit area
Impulse
Force x time
Displacement
Distance from a specific point in a particular direction
Velocity
Displacement per unit time
Acceleration
Change in velocity per unit time
Momentum
Mass x velocity
