Physics Definitions

Question 1

Displacement

Answer 1

Displacement describes the net distance and direction travelled form start to finish

Question 2

Speed

Answer 2

Speed is the rate at which the distance an object moves is changing

Question 3

Velocity

Answer 3

Velocity is the rate at which the displacement of an object is changing and includes direction

Question 4

Acceleration

Answer 4

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. In other words how quickly the velocity of an object is changing. Measured in m/s/s

Question 5

Force

Answer 5

A force is a push or pull on an object. It is something that can change the shape and motion of an object

Question 6

Contact force

Answer 6

Are forces applied directly to the body through physical contact. When contact ceases, the force also ceases

Question 7

Non-contact force

Answer 7

Are forces applied without direct contact. In such cases the force never ceases to act upon the body, no matter how small the force becomes

Question 8

Mass

Answer 8

Mass is the amount of matter in an object and is measured in kilograms

Question 9

Weight

Answer 9

Weight is the amount of force that a planet pulls an object down with and is measured in newtons

Question 10

Distance

Answer 10

Distance is how far an object travels in total

Question 11

Energy

Answer 11

Energy is the capacity or ability to do work and is measured in joules. Energy makes things happen

Question 12

Work

Answer 12

Whenever a force is applied to an object and the object moves in the direction of the force, work has been done. The amount of work done on an object is the product of the size of the force and the distance moved by the object.

Question 13

When work is done, energy is:

Answer 13

• transformed from one type to another

- transferred from one object to another