Vocabulary Flashcards
Uniform Motion
motion at a constant speed in a straight line
State of uniform motion
An object moving with uniform motion
Force
A push or a pull, exerted by one object on another
Velocity
State of motion of an object. Speed combined with its direction of motion
Acceleration
a CHANGE in an object’s velocity
Centripetal acceleration
Acceleration at a right angle to an object’s direction without changing its speed
Net force
Total force acting on an object
Unbalanced forces
The amount of any force that is not cancelled out by other, competing force. This causes acceleration
Weight
A measure of the force of Gravity on a particular mass
Newton’s First law of Motion
Every object at rest, or in uniform motion, will remain in that state of motion unless compelled to do otherwise by forces acting upon it
Newton’s Second law of Motion
Force = mass x acceleration. The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the (net) force on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
Newton’s Third law of Motion
Forces occur only when TWO things interact with each other
Hypothesis
Usually a ‘first guess,’ a reason conjecture about what might be happening, based on intuition and limited knowledge at hand.
Theory
Hypothesis is refined, focused, ans possibly combined with other hypotheses after sufficient testing
Laws
Theories that have been proved accurate and never witnessed to be contradicted
Models
Schematic descriptions of physical systems. Formed based upon laws, theories, and hypotheses
Six “Self Evident Truths”
Existence, Causality, Position Symmetry, Time Symmetry, Principle of Noncontradiction, Occam’s Razor. Set of assumptions or rules used to evaluate our knowledge
Existence
There exist a physical world separate and distinct from our minds that is comprehensible through our senses. This world is governed by certain generalities called the “laws of nature”
Causality
Events in the physical universe have natural causes. Causes precede the events in time and can be explained rationally in terms of the laws of nature
Position Symmetry
The laws of nature are the same everywhere
Time Symmetry
The laws of nature have remained he same through time. They are the same now as they are in the distant past, they will be the future.
Principle of Noncontradiction
Of two contradictory propositions, both cannot be true
Occam’s Razor
If alternative explanations of any phenomenon are available, where each are logical and explain the phenomenon equally well, then the simplest explanation shall be chosen. Explanatory principles or factors are nto to be multiplied beyond necessity. On the other hand, explanations cannot be too simple; they must adequately explain the available data
4 interactions in nature
Strong Nuclear, Electromagnetic, Weak Nuclear, Gravity
