Physical Science: Physics Flashcards
Radiation
heat transfer by an electromagnetic wave
standing by a hot fire
Energy
the ability to create heat (thermal energy transfer) or do work (apply a force that moves something through a distance)
gasoline has stored potential chemical energy
Energy Transfer
the movement of energy from one object or place into another
cue ball hitting billiard ball, transfers kinetic energy
Potential Energy
energy that is stored in the position or configuration of objects
ball on top of a hill; two positive electrical charges close together
Energy Transformation
the change of one type of energy into another type
sledding down a hill - potential energy into kinetic energy
Foot-Pound (Ft⋅Lb)
the unit for energy in US customary units
Heat
the thermal energy transferred from a hot object to a cooler object
a hot water bottle next to your sore shoulder transfers thermal energy in the form of heat
Conservation of Energy
in a closed system, the total amount of energy is constant, even if it changes form or moves from one place to another
girl diving off board into water
Conduction
the transfer of thermal energy through a material or between two materials that are touching
heating pad
Kinetic Energy
the energy of motion
person running; molecules vibrating
Convection
the transfer of heat by a moving fluid, like air and water
heat rising from a lit candle
Joule (J)
The units of heat and energy in the SI system (metric system).
Mechanical Energy
the sum of potential and kinetic energy in a mechanical system
Frequency
the number of ocurrences of an observed behavior over a set time period
A teacher counting the number of times Jacob sticks his tongue out at a classmate during a one-hour class would be collecting frequency data.
Electromagnetic Waves
Waves consisting of vibrating electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum because they do not require a medium. Emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero.
light, radio waves, x-rays
Wave
a disturbance that transports energy as it moves through space and time
water wave, electromagnetism, sound
Transverse Wave
a wave in which the direction of the vibration is perpendicular to the direction the energy travels
light, vibrating guitar string
Amplitude
the maximum displacement of a particle of the medium during a vibration (measured from non-vibrating position to one crest)
height of an ocean wave above the ocean’s normal surface height
Threshold of Hearing
0 dB, the softest sound a human can hear
Troughs (of a Wave)
the valleys, or lowest points, of a vertically vibrating transverse wave
Compression Wave
a longitudinal wave with areas of high and low pressure, or density
sound
Mechanical Waves
Physical waves that travel through a medium.
sound, water waves
Threshold of Pain
sound at 120 dB
Crests
the peaks, or highest points, of a vertically vibrating transverse wave
Period
the time it takes to complete one full wave cycle, measured in seconds
a 17 second stop-light cycle
Wave Speed
a measure of how fast the wave energy moves from one place to another
speed of light
Decibel
The unit for the loudness of sound and is abbreviated dB.
Wavelength
the length (in space) of one complete wave cycle, measured in distance units
crest to crest distance on a water wave
Doppler Effect
An increase in the frequency (or pitch) when a sound emitter and/or an observer move toward each other and a decrease in the frequency (or pitch) when the objects move apart.
Police radar
Loudness
human perception of the intensity of a sound
industrial noise at 110 dB sounds very loud
Electromagnetic Spectrum
the entire range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays
infrared, ultraviolet
Longitudinal Wave
a wave in which the direction of the vibration is parallel to the direction the energy travels
sound
Pitch
how high or low the sound seems to a human ear
Medium
the material that carries a mechanical wave
air for sound wave, a string for a violin
Intensity
a measure of the severity or volume of a behavior when it occurs
A teacher notes that over time, with coaching and reminders, an autistic student’s verbal self-stimulation has gotten quieter and less disruptive.
Circuit Diagram / Schematic
a drawing that uses symbols to show how components should be connected in a circuit
Current
The flow rate of charge, measured in amps (A).
3 amps (3 A)
Voltage / Potential Difference / Potential
the difference in energy per charge across any two points in a circuit, measured in volts (V).
9 volts (9 V)
Ground
the lowest potential, or voltage, in a circuit
negative battery terminal
Electroscope Leaves
Conducting leaves inside an electroscope that spread apart when charge is present
Sinusoidal
A quantity that follows a sine curve, increasing from 0 to a maximum, decreasing through zero to a minimum, and increasing again.
Resistance
A device that reduces/limits/controls the current in a circuit, measured in ohms (Ω).
10 ohms (10 Ω)
DC Current
Current that flows in only one direction along each wire in a circuit
Flashlight circuit.
AC Current
Current that flows sinusoidally alternates direction in a circuit.
60 Hz household circuits.
Ohm’s Law
The relationship between the voltage, V, current, I, and resistance, R in an ohmic circuit.
Electroscope
A device used to show the presence of electric charge
Ohms (Ω)
the unit for resistance
10 ohms (10 Ω)
Short Circuit
a dangerous circuit in which a conducting wire is connected directly across the two battery terminals
Step-Up Transformer
A transformer that increases the voltage and decreases the current by the same ratio
Long distance power transmission
Microchips
Small computers with limited functions; used as controllers and timers in electronic devices.
Electron
low-mass, negatively charged particle; surrounds the nucleus of an atom
Diamagnetism
The quality of materials that are weakly repelled by other magnets and are magnetic only when in an external magnetic field
Water
Ferromagnetism
The quality of materials that form strong magnets and generally stay magnetized even when removed from an external magnetic field
Magnets of iron, cobalt, and nickel
Ideal Transformer
A transformer with no losses due to heating or other effects
Electromagnet
a coil of wire that is magnetic because current flows through it
solenoid
Generator
A device that uses electromagnetic induction to produce an electrical current (mechanical energy to electrical energy).
Generator within a windmill
Paramagnetism
The quality of materials that are weakly attracted to other magnets and are magnetic only when in an external magnetic field
Lithium
Secondary Coil
The output coil of a transformer, connected to the power user
Solenoid
A coil of wire around a central iron piston.
Primary Coil
The input coil of a transformer, connected to the power source
Transformer
A device that uses electromagnetic induction to proportionally change the values of AC current and voltage
Phone charger
Magnetic Field
The potential magnetic force in the space surrounding a magnet. Proportional to the force on a magnetic pole in the space around the magnet.
Magnetic Field Lines
Lines drawn to represent the direction and strength of a magnetic field.
Step-Down Transformer
A transformer that decreases the voltage and increases the current by the same ratio
Battery
A device that uses chemical reactions to produce a voltage difference across two terminals.
Button battery
Electromagnetic Induction
The process of inducing a current by moving charges through a magnetic field.
