Physics Terms Flashcards
Momentum - p = m x v
Momentum is a vector quantity that describes the motion of an object
Impulse (Ft) - Ns - Force x time
Vector quantity that is the change of momentum of an object when the object is acted upon by a force for an interval of time
Energy
Capacity to make change
Work - W = F x S
Energy that is transferred when a change occurs
Mechanical Work
Transfer of energy due to Force being applied to an object that moves distance
Kinetic Energy
Transfer of energy due to Force being applied to an object that moves distance
Gravitational Potential Energy = mgh
Energy that an object has due to its mass and height within a gravitational field
Vector
Quantity that requires magnitude and direction to specify it fully
e.g. Displacement, velocity, acceleration and force
Scalar
quantity that magnitude but no direction
e.g. Distance, speed, mass and time
Efficiency
Percentage of energy input that changes to a useful form of energy
Elastic collision
The collision includes kinetic energy that is conserved is referred to as elastic collision
- final energy equals initial energy
Inelastic Collision
Collision that kinetic energy is not conserved
(The final velocity is not equal to initial velocity)
Mechanical Wave
Wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium
(Velocity of the wave and velocity of the medium can be different)
Electromagnetic wave
Doesn’t require a medium to propagate. It has electric and magnetic fields that oscillate at right angles to each other.
Reflection
When an incident wave bounces off the boundary between media
