Physics (Rare) Flashcards
Acceleration
Rate at which velocity changes with time
Acoustics
Science that deals with the study of mechanical waves
Adhesion
Tendency for different types of particles to cling together
Aerodynamics
Study of the motion of air when it interacts with solid objects
Alloy
Metallic mixture of two different elements
Alternating current
Movement of electric charge that reverses direction
Ampere
Unit of electric current
Angstrom
One ten-billionth of a meter
Astronomical unit
Distance from Earth to the sun
Background radiation
Ionizing radiation that is always present in Earth’s atmosphere
Big Bang
Model that explains the early development of the universe
Binary star
Star system with two stars orbiting around each other
Black hole
Region of space where gravity prevents everything from escaping
Boson
Fundamental particle
Buoyancy
Upward force that opposes the weight of submerged object
Celsius
Scale and measurement unit for temperature
Centripetal force
Force that makes something follow a curved path
Cohesion
Tendency for like particles to cling together
Density
Mass per volume
Dew point
Temperature at which water vapor condenses to liquid water
Displacement
Fluid moving out of the way when an object is placed in it
Doppler effect
Change in the frequency of a wave when the observer moves
Drag
Air resistance or fluid resistance
Elasticity
Property of an object returning to its original shape after a force is applies
Endothermic
Reaction in which the system absorbs energy from its surroundings
Farad
Unit of capacitance
Fission
Process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts
Force
Mass times acceleration
Friction
Force resisting the motion of materials sliding against each other
Fusion
Process in which multiple atomic nuclei join to create a larger nucleus
Gamma Ray
Electromagnetic radiation of high frequency
General relativity
Einstein’s theory of gravitation
Hertz
Unit of frequency, defined as cycles per second
Inertia
Resistance of an object to change in its motion
Joule
Unit of heat
Lever
Simple machine consisting of a beam pivoting on a hinge
Light
Electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye
Mass
Amount of matter in a body
Matter
Anything that has mass and volume
Momentum
Mass times velocity
Neutrino
Neutral elementary particle
Ohm
Unit of electrical resistance
Pendulum
Suspended weight that can swig on a pivot
Photon
Elementary particle of light
Pneumatics
Application of pressurized gas to affect motion
Pressure
Ratio of force to area
Pulley
Simple machine, a wheel on an axle that moves a cable along its circumference
Quantum mechanics
Physics dealing with atomic and subatomic particles
Supernova
Explosion of a star
Temperature
Physical property that expresses notions of hot and cold
Torque
Tendency of a force to rotate an object on an axis
Transducer
Device that converts energy from one form to another
Uncertainty principle
Principle that the position and momentum of a particle cannot be simultaneously known
Vacuum
Space that is empty of matter
Watt
Unit of power