Module 3 Definitions Flashcards
Thermal equilibrium
A state in which there is no net flow of thermal energy between objects. Objects must have the same temperature
Triple point
One specific temperature and pressure at which all three phases of a substance exist in thermal equilibrium
Celsius scale
A temperature scale with 100 degrees between the freezing point and boiling point of water.
Absolute zero
The lowest possible temperature.
Brownian motion
The continuous random motion of small particles suspended in a fluid visible under a microscope
Internal energy
The sum of randomly distributed kinetic and potential energies of the atoms, ions or molecules in a substance.
Specific heat capacity
The energy required per unit mass to change the temperature by 1k.
Specific latent heat
The energy required to change the phase per unit mass while at a constant temperature
Specific heat of fusion
The energy required to change unit mass of a substance from solid to liquid while at a constant temperature
Specific latent heat of vaporisation
The energy required to change unit mass of a substance from liquid to gas while at a constant temperature
Maxwell Boltzmann distribution
The distribution of all the speeds of particles in a gas
Angular velocity
The rate of change of angle for an object moving in a circular path
Centripetal force
A force that keeps a body moving with a constant speed in a circular path
Centripetal acceleration
The acceleration of any object travelling in a circular path at constant speed which always acts towards the centre of the circle.
Isochronous oscillator
An oscillator that has the same period regardless of the amplitude
Simple harmonic motion
Oscillating motion for which acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the displacement and is directed toward some fixed point
Light damping
Damping that occurs when the damping forces are small and the period of the oscillation is almost unchanged
Damping
An oscillation is damped when an external force that acts on the oscillator has the effect of reducing the amplitude of its oscillations
Free oscillation
The motion of a mechanical system displaced from its equilibrium position and then allowed to oscillate without any external forces
Natural frequency
The frequency of free oscillation
Forced oscillation
An oscillation in which a periodic driver force is applied to an oscillator
Driving frequency
The frequency with which a periodic driver force is applied to a system in a forced oscillator
Resonance
The increase in amplitude of a forced oscillation when the driving frequency matched the natural frequency of the oscillating sustem.
Gravitational field
A field created around any object with mass, extending all the way to infinity but diminishing as the distance from the centre of mass of object increases
Gravitational field strength
The gravitational force exerted per unit mass at a point within a gravitational field
Uniform gravitational field
A gravitation field in which the field lines are parallel and the value for g remains constant
Newtons law of gravitation
The force between two point masses is directly proportional to the product of the mass and inversely proportional to the square of the separation between them.
Kelpers first law
The orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the sun at one of the two foci.
Ellipse
An elongated circle with two foci