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AS Physics > Definitions 1 > Flashcards

Definitions 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Homogenous equations

A

A homogeneous equation has both sides of the equation with the same base units, meaning the equation equals zero

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2
Q

Scalar

A

Physical quantities with a magnitude/size

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3
Q

Vector

A

Physical quantities with a magnitude/size and direction

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4
Q

Accuracy

A

How close a reading is to its true value

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5
Q

Precision

A

The smallest change in value that can be measured by an instrument

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6
Q

Random errors

A

Uncontrollable errors that change with each reading and are caused by unknown and unpredictable changes

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7
Q

Systematic errors

A

Errors caused by the imperfection of an instrument, causing readings to differ from the true value by a consistent

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8
Q

Uncertainty

A

The range of values within which a measurement is likely to be in

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9
Q

Acceleration

A

The rate of change of velocity

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10
Q

Displacement

A

The straight line distance between a start and finish point in a specific direction

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11
Q

Distance

A

The total length travelled by an object

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12
Q

Speed

A

The distance travelled per unit time

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13
Q

Terminal velocity

A

The maximum constant velocity of an object in free fall when the resultant force reaches zero

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14
Q

Velocity

A

The rate of change of displacement

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15
Q

Conservation of momentum

A

The total momentum of an isolated system remains constant when there are no external forces acting on the system

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16
Q

Elastic collisions

A

Collisions where:

  1. The total momentum AND kinetic energy of the system are conserved
  2. The relative speed of approach = the relative speed of separation: u1 - u2 = v2 - v1
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17
Q

Force

A

The rate of change of momentum

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18
Q

Inelastic collisions

A

Collisions where:

  1. ONLY the total momentum of the system is conserved
  2. The total kinetic energy is NOT conserved
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19
Q

Linear momentum

A

The product of mass and velocity

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20
Q

Mass

A

The measure of the amount of matter in an object, determining its resistance to acceleration

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21
Q

Newton’s 1st law

A

A body remains at rest or with constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force

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22
Q

Newton’s 2nd law

A

The resultant force is proportional to the rate of change of momentum

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23
Q

Newton’s 3rd law

A

If one body exerts a force on another, it will experience an equal in magnitude, but opposite direction force by the other body

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24
Q

Weight

A

The downward force due to the gravitational field

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25
Centre of gravity
The point at which the weight of an object may be considered to act
26
Density
The mass per unit volume of an object
27
Conditions for equilibrium
1. There is no resultant force 2. Sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments
28
Moment
The turning effect of a force
29
Pressure
The perpendicular force per unit area
30
Principle of moments
The sum of all clockwise moments about a point = the sum of all anti-clockwise moments about the same point
31
Couple
A pair of forces that act to produce rotation or torque
32
Energy
The ability to do work
33
Work done
The product of a force and the distance moved in the direction of the force
34
Gravitational potential energy
Energy stored due to the height or position of a mass in a gravitational field
35
Kinetic energy
Energy of an object due to its motion
36
Power
The work done or energy transferred per unit time
37
7 SI base quantities
1. Mass - kg 2. Length - m 3. Time - sec 4. Current - A 5. Temperature - K 6. Amount of a substance - mol 7. Luminous intensity - cd
38
How does an object in free fall reach terminal velocity?
1. The resultant force due to the weight of the object is initially much greater than the air resistance 2. The object's velocity increases as it continues to fall, which causes the drag force to increase 3. The increase in drag force decreases the resultant force until it reaches zero 4. When the drag force equals the weight of the object, terminal velocity has been reached
39
Hydrostatic pressure
The pressure exerted by a fluid on an object in equilibrium within the fluid due to the force of gravity
40
Atmospheric pressure
1.01 x 10^3 Pa
41
Archimedes' law
When an object submerged in a fluid is at rest, it has an upward buoyancy force or upthrust equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object
42
Archimedes' principle equation
F = p * g * V F = upthrust force in N p = density of fluid in kgm^-3 V = volume of fluid displaced in m^3
43
Upthrust
The resultant force acting on an object submerged in a fluid, which is due to the difference in hydrostatic pressure at the top and bottom of the object
44
How many significant figures should you write uncertainties to?
1. Always give the uncertainty to the same sf as all the other uncertainties given 2. For percentage uncertainties the uncertainty should be given to 2sf
45
Equation relating work to energy
Work = ∆E W = ∆EK ∆GPE = ∆EP
46
What happens if all EK is transferred to GPE or EP?
1. ∆EK = ∆GPE 2. ∆EK = ∆EP
47
How do you calculate the total resistive forces acting on an object?
F net = mg - F resistive F net = sum forces in the direction of motion - sum forces opposing the motion in the opposite direction of motion
48
How do you fix a systematic error?
1. If there is a zero error, subtract it from all the readings 2. Use a new or different instrument and retake the readings
49
How do you reduce the affect of a random error?
Take multiple readings and then find the average of the readings
50
Scalar quantites
Distance, speed, mass, time, energy, volume, density, pressure, electric charge, temperature
51
Vector quantities
Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum
52
Conditions of a couple
1. The forces are equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction 2. The forces must be perpendicular to the distance between them 3. The forces cannot share the same line of action 4. A couple produces a resultant force of zero and hence, the object does not accelerate
53
When do you know if an object will float or sink in a fluid? How do you know if an object will float or sink in a fluid?
- An object will float if the upthrust > the weight of the fluid displaced - i.e. the object is less dense than the fluid - An object will sink if the weight > the upthrust - i.e. the object is more dense than the fluid
54
State the characteristics of a velocity-time graph:
- Gradient of the line = acceleration - Area below the line = displacement - When the line goes below the positive y-axis, it means the object is moving in the opposite direction
55
State the characteristics of a displacement-time graph:
- Gradient of the line = velocity - When the line crosses the time-axis, the object passes through the starting position
56
When should the 5 SUVAT equations be used?
They describe any object moving with a constant acceleration
57
State the 5 SUVAT equations:
1. v = u + at 2. s = ut + (1/2)at^2 3. s = vt - (1/2)at^2 4. s = (v + u)t / 2 5. v^2 = u^2 + 2as
58
The equation relating force, momentum and time
F = ∆p / ∆t
59
Change in momentum
∆p = p(final) - p(initial) = m(∆v)
60
Conditions for Newton's 3rd law
The force pair must be: 1. The same type of force 2. The same magnitude 3. Opposite in direction 4. Acting on different objects
61
What affects the magnitude of drag forces?
Drag forces increase with the speed of the object and decrease as the object slows down
62
Inertia
An object's resistance to changes in its motion or state of rest
63
Stable objects
Stable objects have a lower center of gravity and wider base
64
Equation for the moment of a force
T = Fd d = perpendicular distance to the force to the pivot
65
How do you calculate a couple?
T = Fd F = one of the forces d = perpendicular distance between the forces
66
Equation for density
ρ = m / V ρ = density in kgm^-3
66
Equation for pressure
p = F / A p = pressure in Pa or Nm^-2
67
Equation for hydrostatic pressure
∆p = ρg∆h
68
Derive the equation for hydrostatic pressure
1. W = mg 2. ρ = m / V → m = ρV → W = ρVg 3. ρV = ρAh → W = ρAhg 4. p = F / A → W / A → ρAhg / A 5. ∆p = ρg∆h
69
What should you always do when working with momentum?
Always apply the correct directions

AS Physics (3 decks)

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