Definitions Flashcards
What is a vector quantity?
A quantity with both a magnitude and a direction
What is a scalar quantity?
A quantity with magnitude but no direction
What is the principle of moments?
For a body in rotational equilibrium, the sum m of the anticlockwise moments about any point is equal to the sum of the clockwise moments about that same point
Define couple
A pair of equal and opposite forces acting on a body but not in the same straight line
Define pressure
The normal contact force exerted per unit cross-sectional area
Define Archimedes’ principle
The upthrust exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces
Define 1J
The work done when a force of 1N moves its point of application 1m in the direction of the force
What is energy?
The capacity to do work
What is the principle of conservation of energy?
The total energy of a closed system remains constant: energy can never be created or destroyed only transferred from one form to another
