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Physics Ch1 vocab
World History 30-32
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Law | A mathematical relation between variables, inferred from data or through some reasoning process |
Observational experiment | Collecting data without any expectation of the outcome |
Testing experiment | An experiment that is putting a hypothesis “on trial” |
Hypothesis | Explanation usually based on some mechanism behind what is going on in an experiment |
Prediction | Expected outcome based on the hypothesis |
Assumption | A statement that is accepted as true without logical reasoning |
Physical quantities | Measurable properties of a phenomena |
Models | Simplified representation of physical phenomena |
Point like objects | Simplified representation of a real object |
Modeling | Process followed to decide when a real object could be considered a point like object |
Physical qualities | Features of phenomena that can be measured experimentally |
SI system | Global standard for expressing the magnitude or quantities of important, natural phenomena |
Unit | A quantity chosen as the standard in terms of which other quantities may be expressed |
Sig figs | physical quantity equal to the number of digits in a number that are known with certainty |
Scientific notation | A number of order unity times an appropriate power of ten |
Interrogation | Continually asking yourself the same question when reading a text |
The Object of Interest | Demotion being described when describing motion |
Reference frame | The person observing the motion |
Linear motion | A model that assumes that an object, considered as a point like object, moves in a straight line |
One dimensional motion | Aka - linear motion |
Velocity arrow | Indicates which way an object moves and how fast it is moving |
Motion diagrams | Diagrams expressing motion by velocity arrows |
Scalar quantity | Quantity determined through Xf - Xi |
Vector quantity | Indicates a characteristic of motion has direction and magnitude |
Velocity change arrow | Represents a change in velocity on a motion diagram |
Displacement vector | Starts from object’s, initial position and ends at its final position |
Kinematics | Study of motion and how to describe it |
Slope | Change in vertical quantity/change in horizontal quantity |
Distance | Total length of travel in meters |
Displacement | Change in position = final position - initial position |
Position | The location of an object relative to a chosen origin |
Path length | The length of the path a moving object took |
Rate | Rate if change |
Speed | How fast an object is moving |
Velocity | Speed and direction of an object in motion |
Average velocity | Displacement/elapsed time |
Instantaneous velocity | Velocity of an object at a specific point in time |
Acceleration | Physical quantity characterizing the change in velocity during a particular time |
Elapsed time | Difference between the end and beginning of time |
Free fall | The motion of falling objects in the absence of air |
Average acceleration | Change in velocity divided by a time interval |
Observer | Person doing the observing |