Physics Flashcards
Gravitational potential energy
the energy an object possesses due to its position relative to a reference point.
Kinetic energy
the energy an object has as a result of the object’s motion
Mechanical energy
the sum of gravitational potential and kinetic energy at a point.
Conservation of energy:
The total energy in a system cannot be created nor destroyed; only transferred from one form to another.
Conservation of mechanical energy
In the absence of air resistance or any external forces, the mechanical energy of an object is constant.
Coulomb’s law:
The force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the distance between the charges squared
magnitude of the electric field at a point
the force per unit positive charge.
Potential difference
the work done per unit positive charge.
Current
the rate of flow of charge.
Resistance
material’s opposition to the flow of electric current.
Emf
the total energy supplied per coulomb of charge by the cell.
Ohm’s Law:
Current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across the conductor at constant temperature
Magnetic flux linkage
the product of the number of turns on the coil and the flux through the coil
Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction:
The emf induced is directly proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux (flux linkage)
Lenz’s law:
The induced current flows in a direction so as to set up a magnetic field to oppose the change in magnetic flux.
vector
physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction
scalar quantity
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
the rate of change of distance.
Velocity
the rate of change of position or rate of displacement.
Acceleration
rate of change of velocity.
Inertia
the property of an object that causes it to resist a change in its state of rest or uniform motion.
Weight (Fg)
The gravitational force that the earth exerts on any object on or near its surface
Normal force
The perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it.
Frictional force
The force that opposes the motion of an object and acts parallel to the surface with which the object is in contact
Newtons first law
An object continues in a state of rest or uniform (moving with constant) velocity unless it is acted upon by a net or resultant force
Newtons second law
When a net force, Fnet, is applied to an object of mass, m, it accelerates in the direction of the net force. The acceleration, a, is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass.
Newtons Third law
When object A exerts a force on object B, object B simultaneously exerts an oppositely directed force of equal magnitude on object A.
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force which is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centres.
Static frictional force
the force that opposes the tendency of motion of a stationary object relative to a surface.
Kinetic frictional force
the force that opposes the motion of a moving object relative to a surface.
