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Physics Vocabulary
Mr.Weis Oglethorpe County
61
Physics
11th Grade
01/10/2017

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Term
physics
Definition
a science that deals with matter and energy and their interactions in the field of mechanics and etc
Term
meter
Definition
basic unit for measuring length
Term
liter
Definition
basic unit for measuring volume
Term
gram
Definition
basic unit for measuring mass
Term
accuracy
Definition
how close a measurement is to the actual value being measured
Term
precision
Definition
degree of exactness
Term
scalar
Definition
a measurement that includes magnitude only
Term
vector
Definition
a measurement that includes magnitude and direction
Term
displacement
Definition
measurement that indicates a change in position from the point of origin to the final position
Term
magnitude
Definition
size of a measurement
Term
velocity
Definition
change in displacement over a period of time
Term
acceleration
Definition
change in velocity over a period of time
Term
force
Definition
push or pull exerted upon an object
Term
inertia
Definition
tendency of an object to resist change
Term
normal force
Definition
force that is exerted upon an object by a surface. perpendicular to the surface
Term
friction
Definition
force that resists motion by acting in the opposite direction of applied force
Term
tension
Definition
force that is transmitted by a taut rope or cord
Term
terminal velocity
Definition
maximum velocity a falling object can attain due to a balancing of the forces of gravity and air resistance
Term
component
Definition
a one dimensional part of a two dimensional vector
Term
resultant
Definition
sum of 2 component vectors
Term
projectile
Definition
an object that once in motion is under the influence of gravity
Term
trajectory
Definition
curved path followed by a projectile
Term
centripetal acceleration
Definition
change in direction of an object as it moves around a circular path. acceleration is always directed towards the center
Term
centripetal force
Definition
force directed towards the center of a circle to keep an object traveling along a circular path
Term
work
Definition
using force to displace an object
Term
power
Definition
rate at which work is done
Term
kinetic energy
Definition
energy of an object in motion
Term
potential energy
Definition
stored energy in an object
Term
mechanical energy
Definition
sum of an objects potential and kinetic energy that could readily be involved in motion
Term
momentum
Definition
amount of motion an object has
Term
impulse
Definition
amount of time a force is applied. it is equal to the change in an object's momentum
Term
inelastic collision
Definition
the touching of two objects that does not conserve kinetic energy after the interaction
Term
elastic collision
Definition
touching of 2 objects conserving kinetic energy before and after interaction
Term
atomic number
Definition
the number of protons found in the atom of an element
Term
atomic mass
Definition
number of protons and neutrons found in the atom
Term
mass defect
Definition
difference between the mass and the individual nucleons and the actual mass of an atom
Term
radioactive decay
Definition
process of a nucleus breaking down and releasing atomic particles and energy
Term
fission
Definition
splitting of 1 nucleus into 2 nuclei
Term
fusion
Definition
combining of 2 nuclei into 1 nucleus
Term
wave
Definition
transfer of energy through a medium or vacuum caused by a disturbance
Term
wavelength
Definition
the distance from a point on a wave to the next identical point (crest to crest)
Term
amplitude
Definition
maximum displacement of a wave from its position of rest
Term
frequency
Definition
the number of waves produced per second
Term
period
Definition
the time needed for 1 wavelength to pass
Term
mechanical wave
Definition
wave that must pass through a medium such as a sound wave
Term
electromagnetic wave
Definition
wave can pass through a medium or a vacuum such as a light wave
Term
constructive interference
Definition
occurs where two overlapping waves have a displacement of the medium in the same direction
Term
destructive interference
Definition
occurs where two overlapping waves have a displacement of the medium in the opposite direction
Term
reflection
Definition
wave bounces off an object
Term
refraction
Definition
wave goes through an object but changes direction
Term
diffraction
Definition
wave goes around an object
Term
diffraction
Definition
wave goes around an object
Term
real image
Definition
image formed from the actual convergence of light rays
Term
virtual image
Definition
image formed from the apparent convergence of light rays
Term
Insulator
Definition
material that resists electron flow
Term
conductor
Definition
material that easily allows electron flow
Term
electric current
Definition
flow of chargers through a wire or other type of conductor
Term
voltage difference
Definition
push on charges created by difference in charges between 2 different areas
Term
resistance
Definition
tendency for a material to oppose the flow of electrons, charging electrical energy into thermal energy and light energy
Term
series circuit
Definition
only one path for current to flow
Term
parallel circuit
Definition
two or more paths for current to flow
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