Section 1 Physics Scientific Inquiry, Motion, Force Flashcards
every action has an equal and opposite reaction; if one object exerts force on another object, the second object will exert an equal amount of force on the first object
Newton’s 3rd law
an object in motion stays in motion; an object at rest stays at rest; often called the law of inertia; objects resist change
Newton’s 1st law
when a net force acts on an object, the object accelerates in the direction of the net force; the bigger the force the bigger the acceleration (directly proportional) ; the bigger the mass the lower the acceleration given the same force (inversely proportional)
Newton’s 2nd law
an experiment in which a scientist intentionally changes one quantity and observes how another quantity changes
controlled experiment
experiments in which systems are observed as they appear in nature, and researchers do NOT attempt to change them
observational studies
observational studies done outside a laboratory setting
field study
experiments that take place in a highly controlled, artificial setting
laboratory study
the variable that is changed by the experimenter in an experiment (the thing you change on purpose)
independent variable
the variable that changes BECAUSE of the independent variable
dependent variable
the variable that scientist do not wish to study that either needs to be eliminated or kept constant (does not change)
control variable
a model that represents a real object or phenomenon, usually on a smaller scale
physical model
a model that can be used to visualize things that cannot be seen, such as atoms
conceptual model
a model that describes physical objects or phenomena using mathematical methods (formulas, graphs, Newton’s 2nd law of motion)
mathematical model
a model that uses computers to explain and predict complex systems, such as weather patterns and the detailed movements of objects in the solar system (GPS)
computational model
positive correlation
direct proportionality
negative correlation
inverse proportionality
speed
distance traveled per time interval
an objects speed and direction
velocity
rate at which the velocity (speed and direction) of an object changes with respect to time; occurs when an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction
acceleration
a push or pull
Force
the sum of all the forces acting on an object
net force
there is no net force and no therefore no acceleration (at rest or moving with constant velocity; car moving 50 mph)
zero net force
when all forces acting on an object cancel each other out—the net force is zero
balanced forces
there is a net force, so acceleration is possible; anything other than zero
Non-zero net force
the tendency to keep the same motion, to remain at rest, or maintain the same velocity; lazy
inertia
the measure of the amount of matter in something
mass
little; a concise statement based on many experiments or observations
law
a thoroughly tested explanation of a group of phenomena; tells the how and why
theory
a testable statement; an educated guess
hypothesis
