Physics Definitions Flashcards
Define
Speed
the distance travelled in a unit of time
How fast an object is traveling
Define
Force
the push or pull experienced by any object
Changes shape or motion of oobject
Define
Mass
Amount of matter in an object
g or kg
Define
Acceleration
Change in velocity over time
Speeding up/ slowing down
m/s/s
Define
Distance
Total movement of an object, not regarding direction
Define
Energy Transfer
Energy is passed from one object to another
Define
Energy Transformation
Energy changes it’s form (ability to do one type of work)
e.g from kinetic to thermal
Define
Efficiency
A measure of how much energy is doing something useful
Define
Convection
Heat transfer through fluid currents
Define
Conduction
Heat transfer through solid object
Because of particle collisions
Define
Wavelength
The distance between two corresponding points on a wave
The distance of one wave oscillation
Define
Frequency
Number of waves that passes a single point in a period of time
How often the wave oscilates
Define
Absorbtion
Light energy is transformed when it passes through a medium
The light is taken into the material and there is no more light around
Define
Reflection
Change in direction of light by bouncing off a surface
Define
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes through a new medium
Define
Energy
The ability to do work
Define
Net Force
The net force is the vector sum of all the forces that act upon an object
Define
Mediums
Define
Constant Velocity
An object moving in the same direction at the same speed
m/s
Define
Friction
The force that resists movement
Created by contact between objects
Define
Inertia
An object’s resistance to changing motion
Dependant on mass
Define
Newton (N)
Unit of force
Define
Vector Quantity
Quantity with direction
e.g. velocity
Define
Velocity
Speed in a particular direction
