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AP Physics Flashcards

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8474504241VectorA quantity that involves both magnitude and direction.0
8474504242ScalarA quantity that does not involve direction.1
8474504243DisplacementA net distance traveled including direction; An objects change in position.2
8474504244Two-Dimensional VectorsVectors that lie flat in a plane and can be written as the sum of a horizontal vector and a vertical vector.3
8474504245Unit VectorsSpecial vectors that have a magnitude of 1. These include horizontal basis vector, i, and vertical basis vector, j.4
8474504246PositionAn objects location in a certain space.5
8474504247Newton'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
8474504248InertiaAn object's natural resistance to changes in their state of motion.7
8474504249Newton'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
8474504250Newton's Third LawTo ever action, there is an equal but opposite reaction.9
8474504251WeightThe gravitational force exerted on an object by the Earth (or by whatever planet it happens to be on).10
8474504252Normal 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
8474504253Friction 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
8474504254Static FrictionA type of friction that occurs when there is no relative motion between the object and the surface (no sliding).13
8474504255Kinetic FrictionA type of friction that occurs when there is relative motion (when the surface is sliding).14
8474504256Coefficient of FricitonRepresents the nature of surfaces.15
8474504257Law 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
8474504258WorkThe application of force over a distance and the resulting change in energy of the system that the force is acted on.17
8474504259Total Mechanical EnergyThe sum of an object's kinetic and potential energies.18
8474504260PowerThe rate at which work gets done, or energy gets transferred.19
8474504261ImpulseThe product of force and the time during which it acts.20
8474504262Impulse-Momentum TheoremAnother way of writing Newton's Second Law. (Written J = change in momentum)21
8474504263MomentumA vector quantity given by p = mv22
8474504264Uniform Circular MotionWhen an objects speed around its path is constant.23
8474504265Centripetal 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
8474504266Newton'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
8474504267KinematicsThe mathematical tools for describing motion in terms of displacement, velocity, and acceleration.26
8474504268Potential EnergyThe energy of an object or system has by virtue of its position of configuration.27
8474504269Total Mechanical EnergyThe sum of an objects kinetic and potential energies.28
8474504270Law of Conservation of Total EnergyK(initial)+U(Initial) = K(final)+U(final)29
8474504271Elastic CollisionA type of collision in which the objects bounce perfectly off each other in opposite directions. Kinetic Energy is conserved. Momentum is conserved.30
8474504272Inelastic CollisionA type of collision in which the objects travel in the same direction after the collision. Kinetic Energy is lost. Momentum is conserved.31
8474504273Perfectly Inelastic CollisionThe objects stick together and travel in the same direction. Greatest kinetic energy is lost. Momentum is conserved.32
8474504274Law of Conservation of MomentumThe momentum before equals the momentum after. total p (initial) = total p (final).33
8474504275Uniform Circular MotionThe objects speed around its path (constant).34
8474504276Centripetal ForceThe force that produces centripetal acceleration. Pulls on object toward the center.35
8474504277Universal Gravitational Constant9.81, signified by the capital letter G.36
8474504278TorqueThe measure of a force's effectiveness at making an object spin or rotate.37
8474504279Translational EquilibriumOccurs when the sum of the forces acting on an object are zero.38
8474504280Rotational EquilibriumIf the sum of the torques acting on an object is zero.39
8474504281Static EquilibriumState of equilibrium when an object is at rest.40
8474504282Rotational InertiaThe tendency of an object in motion to rotate until its acted upon by an outside force.41
8474504283Equilibrium PositionWhen a spring is neither stretched nor compressed it is said to be in it ___________ ____________.42
8474504284Hooke's LawF = -kx43
8474504285Simple Harmonic MotionAny vibrating system for which the restoring force is directly proportional to the negative of the displacement is said to exhibit _________________ _______________ ______________.44
8474504286AmplitudeThe maximum displacement from equilibrium.45
8474504287Period (T)The amount of time it takes to complete a cycle.46
8474504288FrequencyThe number of cycles that can be completed per unit time.47
8474504289Simple 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
8474504290Mechanical WaveA disturbance transmitted by a medium from one point to another, without the medium its self being transported.49
8474504291CrestsThe points at which the rope has its maximum vertical displacement above the horizontal.50
8474504292TroughsThe points at which the rope has its maximum vertical displacement below the horizontal.51
8474504293Transverse WaveA wave vibrating perpendicular to the direction in which it propagates (travels horizontally).52
8474504294Superposition (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
8474504295Constructive 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
8474504296Destructive InterferenceWhen two waves have opposite displacements and meet, the combined waveform will have a displacement of smaller magnitude than either individual wave.55
8474504297InphaseWhen 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
8474504298Out 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
8474504299Standing WaveThe wave oscillates vertically and remains fixed. The crests and troughs no longer travel down the length of the string.58
8474504300Longitudinal WaveA wave the travels and oscillates in the same direction. (i.e sound waves)59
8474504301IntensityThe rate at which sound waves transmit energy, per unit area.60
8474504302Decibels (dB)The loudness of sound.61
8474504303BeatWhen two waves interfere constructively, producing an increase in sound level.62
8474504304Beat FrequencyEqual to the difference between the frequencies of the two combining sounds.63
8474504305Doppler EffectThe shift in frequency and wavelength that occurs when the source and detector are in relative motion.64
8474504306Electric ChargeA quality had by protons and electrons that gives them an attractive force.65
8474504307ChargedOccurs when an imbalance between the numbers of protons and electrons exists.66
8474504308Coulomb's Law67
8474504309Electric FieldThe presence of charge creates an ___________ ___________ in the space that surrounds it.68
8474504310Gravitational FieldThe space surrounding the Earth a permeated by a ___________ ____________ that's created by the Earth.69
8474504311Electric DipoleWhen two equal but opposite charges form a pair.70
8474504312ConductorsMaterials that permit the flow of excess charge.71
8474504313InsulatorsA material whose internal electric charges do not flow freely.72
8474504314SuperconductorA material that offers no resistance to the flow of charges.73
8474504315Ohm's Law74
8474504316Direct CurrentWhen a current always travels in the same direction through the pathway.75
8474504317VoltageThe thing that creates current.76
8474504318Kirchhoff'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
8474504319Kirchhoff'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
8474504320Net 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
8474504321Restoring ForceAny force that always pushed an object toward an equilibrium position.80

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