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AP Physics Flashcards

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9164267211VectorA quantity that involves both magnitude and direction.0
9164267212ScalarA quantity that does not involve direction.1
9164267213DisplacementA net distance traveled including direction; An objects change in position.2
9164267214Two-Dimensional VectorsVectors that lie flat in a plane and can be written as the sum of a horizontal vector and a vertical vector.3
9164267215Unit VectorsSpecial vectors that have a magnitude of 1. These include horizontal basis vector, i, and vertical basis vector, j.4
9164267216PositionAn objects location in a certain space.5
9164267217Newton's First LawAn object will continue in its state of motion unless compelled to change by a force impressed upon it. Also called Law of Inertia6
9164267218InertiaAn object's natural resistance to changes in their state of motion.7
9164267219Newton's Second LawPredicts what will happen when an unbalanced force does act on an object: the object's velocity will change / the object will accelerate.8
9164267220Newton's Third LawTo ever action, there is an equal but opposite reaction.9
9164267221WeightThe gravitational force exerted on an object by the Earth (or by whatever planet it happens to be on).10
9164267222Normal ForceThe component of the contact force that is perpendicular to the surface. (When an object is in contact with a surface, the surface exerts a contact force on the object.)11
9164267223Friction ForceThe component of the contact force that is parallel to the surface. (When an object is in contact with a surface, the surface exerts a contact force on the object).12
9164267224Static FrictionA type of friction that occurs when there is no relative motion between the object and the surface (no sliding).13
9164267225Kinetic FrictionA type of friction that occurs when there is relative motion (when the surface is sliding).14
9164267226Coefficient of FricitonRepresents the nature of surfaces.15
9164267227Law of Conservation of EnergyEnergy can not just appear out of nowhere nor can it disappear in a closed system; it must always take on another form.16
9164267228WorkThe application of force over a distance and the resulting change in energy of the system that the force is acted on.17
9164267229Total Mechanical EnergyThe sum of an object's kinetic and potential energies.18
9164267230PowerThe rate at which work gets done, or energy gets transferred.19
9164267231ImpulseThe product of force and the time during which it acts.20
9164267232Impulse-Momentum TheoremAnother way of writing Newton's Second Law. (Written J = change in momentum)21
9164267233MomentumA vector quantity given by p = mv22
9164267234Uniform Circular MotionWhen an objects speed around its path is constant.23
9164267235Centripetal AccelerationWhen the acceleration vector points toward the center of the circle. The thing that turns the velocity vector to keep the object traveling in a circle.24
9164267236Newton's Law of GravitationAny two objects in the universe that exert and attractive force on each other - called the gravitiational force - whoes strength is proportional to the product of the object's masses and25
9164267237KinematicsThe mathematical tools for describing motion in terms of displacement, velocity, and acceleration.26
9164267238Potential EnergyThe energy of an object or system has by virtue of its position of configuration.27
9164267239Total Mechanical EnergyThe sum of an objects kinetic and potential energies.28
9164267240Law of Conservation of Total EnergyK(initial)+U(Initial) = K(final)+U(final)29
9164267241Elastic CollisionA type of collision in which the objects bounce perfectly off each other in opposite directions. Kinetic Energy is conserved. Momentum is conserved.30
9164267242Inelastic CollisionA type of collision in which the objects travel in the same direction after the collision. Kinetic Energy is lost. Momentum is conserved.31
9164267243Perfectly Inelastic CollisionThe objects stick together and travel in the same direction. Greatest kinetic energy is lost. Momentum is conserved.32
9164267244Law of Conservation of MomentumThe momentum before equals the momentum after. total p (initial) = total p (final).33
9164267245Uniform Circular MotionThe objects speed around its path (constant).34
9164267246Centripetal ForceThe force that produces centripetal acceleration. Pulls on object toward the center.35
9164267247Universal Gravitational Constant9.81, signified by the capital letter G.36
9164267248TorqueThe measure of a force's effectiveness at making an object spin or rotate.37
9164267249Translational EquilibriumOccurs when the sum of the forces acting on an object are zero.38
9164267250Rotational EquilibriumIf the sum of the torques acting on an object is zero.39
9164267251Static EquilibriumState of equilibrium when an object is at rest.40
9164267252Rotational InertiaThe tendency of an object in motion to rotate until its acted upon by an outside force.41
9164267253Equilibrium PositionWhen a spring is neither stretched nor compressed it is said to be in it ___________ ____________.42
9164267254Hooke's LawF = -kx43
9164267255Simple Harmonic MotionAny vibrating system for which the restoring force is directly proportional to the negative of the displacement is said to exhibit _________________ _______________ ______________.44
9164267256AmplitudeThe maximum displacement from equilibrium.45
9164267257Period (T)The amount of time it takes to complete a cycle.46
9164267258FrequencyThe number of cycles that can be completed per unit time.47
9164267259Simple PendulumConsists of a weight of mass attached to a string or a mass-less rod that swings, without friction, about the vertical equilibrium position.48
9164267260Mechanical WaveA disturbance transmitted by a medium from one point to another, without the medium its self being transported.49
9164267261CrestsThe points at which the rope has its maximum vertical displacement above the horizontal.50
9164267262TroughsThe points at which the rope has its maximum vertical displacement below the horizontal.51
9164267263Transverse WaveA wave vibrating perpendicular to the direction in which it propagates (travels horizontally).52
9164267264Superposition (Of Waves)When two or more waves meet, the displacement at any point of the medium is equal to the algebraic sum of the displacements due to the individual waves.53
9164267265Constructive InterferenceWhen two waves has displacements of the same sign when they overlap, the combined wave will have a displacement of greater magnitude than either individual wave.54
9164267266Destructive InterferenceWhen two waves have opposite displacements and meet, the combined waveform will have a displacement of smaller magnitude than either individual wave.55
9164267267InphaseWhen two waves meet and the crest meets the crest and trough meets trough perfectly. These waves constructively interfere and the amplitude of the combined wave will be the sum of the individual amplitudes.56
9164267268Out of PhaseWhen two waves meet and the crest of one meets the trough of the other and vice versa. These waves will destructively interfere completely and the amplitude of the combined wave will be the difference between the individual amplitudes.57
9164267269Standing WaveThe wave oscillates vertically and remains fixed. The crests and troughs no longer travel down the length of the string.58
9164267270Longitudinal WaveA wave the travels and oscillates in the same direction. (i.e sound waves)59
9164267271IntensityThe rate at which sound waves transmit energy, per unit area.60
9164267272Decibels (dB)The loudness of sound.61
9164267273BeatWhen two waves interfere constructively, producing an increase in sound level.62
9164267274Beat FrequencyEqual to the difference between the frequencies of the two combining sounds.63
9164267275Doppler EffectThe shift in frequency and wavelength that occurs when the source and detector are in relative motion.64
9164267276Electric ChargeA quality had by protons and electrons that gives them an attractive force.65
9164267277ChargedOccurs when an imbalance between the numbers of protons and electrons exists.66
9164267278Coulomb's Law67
9164267279Electric FieldThe presence of charge creates an ___________ ___________ in the space that surrounds it.68
9164267280Gravitational FieldThe space surrounding the Earth a permeated by a ___________ ____________ that's created by the Earth.69
9164267281Electric DipoleWhen two equal but opposite charges form a pair.70
9164267282ConductorsMaterials that permit the flow of excess charge.71
9164267283InsulatorsA material whose internal electric charges do not flow freely.72
9164267284SuperconductorA material that offers no resistance to the flow of charges.73
9164267285Ohm's Law74
9164267286Direct CurrentWhen a current always travels in the same direction through the pathway.75
9164267287VoltageThe thing that creates current.76
9164267288Kirchhoff's First Law (The Junction Rule) (The Node Rule)Says that the total current that enters a junction must equal the total current that leaves the junction.77
9164267289Kirchhoff's Second Law (The Loop Rule)Says that the sum of the potential differences (positive and negative) That traverse any closed loop in a circuit must be zero.78
9164267290Net ForceThe single force that could replace all the individual acting on an object and produce the same effect. Forces acting in the same direction add to together to make this.79
9164267291Restoring ForceAny force that always pushed an object toward an equilibrium position.80

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