Physics Definitions Flashcards
Scalar
A physical quantity which has a magnitude only
Vector
A physical quantity which has both magnitude and direction
Resultant
The single vector which has the same effect as all the component vectors together would have
Maximum resultant
Obtained when 2 vectors act in the same direction
Minimum resultant
Obtained when 2 vectors act in the opposite direction
Distance
Length of path actually taken
Displacement
A body’s change in position
Speed
RATE OF CHANGE OF DISTANCE MOVED
Instantaneous speed
Speed at a particular moment
Velocity
The rate of change of position
Instantaneous velocity
The velocity at a particular moment
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity
EMF
Voltage of a battery with no current flowing
Potential difference
Voltage of a battery with a current flowing
Current
The rate of flow of charge. The number of coulombs of charge that flow past a point in a circuit every second
Resistance
The property of a material which causes it to oppose the flow of charge through it
Series circuit
When resistors are connected in such a way that there is only one path along which the current can flow.
Parallel circuit
There is more than one path for the current to follow
Battery
More than one cell connected together
Resistor
A component that opposes the flow of current in an electrical circuit
Rheostat
A component in an electrical circuit that has the ability to change its resistance
Voltage
Measure of the amount of potential energy (or EMF) stored in an cell or used by a circuit component
Voltmeter
An instrument used to measure voltage
Ammeter
An instrument used to measure amperes
Weight
The gravitational forge that a celestial body such as a moon or planet exerts on an object on its own surface (N)
Gravitational potential energy
The potential energy dependant on gravitational force and the height
Kinetic energy
Energy of motion, the greater the mass of an object and the faster an object moves, the greate its kinetic energy
Mechanical energy
Sum of its kinetic energy and its gravitational potential energy
Principle of conservation of energy
Principle that states energy can not be created or destroyed.
