Physics Vocab Lesson 1 Unit 2
by Christian Meyer
1. Particle model: A simplified version of a motion diagram in which the moving object is replaced by a series of single points
2. Scalar Quantity: A physical measurement that can be described by magnitude only and has no direction
3. Speed: The distance an object travels per unit of time.
4. Time: The measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues .
5. Distance: The length of a path between two points.
6. Vector quantity: A physical measurement that contains directional information
7. Velocity: The speed of an object in a particular direction.
8. Displacement: Distance and direction of an object's change in position from the starting point.
9. Time Interval: The time between two events
10. Average Velocity: The total displacement divided by the time interval during which the displacement occurred
11. Instantaneous Velocity: The velocity of an object at some instant or at a specific point in the object's path.
12. Acceleration: The rate at which velocity changes.
13. Average Acceleration: The change in velocity during some measurable time interval divided by that time interval
14. Constant Acceleration: Velocity changing at a constant rate
15. Macroscopic Object: Objects large enough to be visible almost practically with the naked eye, without magnifying optical instruments.
16. Force: A push or pull exerted on an object.
17. Net Force: The overall force on an object when all the individual forces acting on it are added together
18. Velocity Formula: v=d/t Acceleration Formula: a=vf-vi/t Time Interval Formula: t=tf-ti Force Formula: F=ma
19. Units of Velocity: m/s
20. Units of Acceleration: m/s^2
21. Units for Force: N (Newtons)
22. Distance-Time Graph: Line graph used to show the speed of a moving object
23. Velocity Time Graph: A graph that can be used to plot the velocity of an object versus time and to determine the sign of an object's acceleration