Physics Vocab: Mass: The amount of matter in an object. This is usually measured in units like grams or kilograms. Weight: This is the force of gravity on an object. It is also measured in units like grams and kilograms Rate (speed): This is how quickly an object covers a given distance. The formula for calculating rate is Distance= rate x time, or with a little simple algebra rate=distance divided by time. This is measured in units like miles per hour or kilometers per second or centimeters per century, or millimeters per day. Motion: When an object changes its position through time. Reference point: Visually you can determine if something is moving if it changes its location in relationship to another "non-moving" object, that is used for reference. Velocity: An objects velocity is made up of its rate and its direction of travel. Force: A push or a pull, transferring energy Balanced force: When opposite forces on an object are equal, and the object does not accelerate Unbalanced force; When opposite forces on an object are unequal, and the object accelerates in the direction of the less powerful force Acceleration: Any change in velocity or state of motion. This can be speeding up, slowing down, or changing directions. Inertia: An object’s tendency to resist a change in its state of motion. More massive objects have higher inertia; less massive objects have less inertia. Newton’s First Law: An object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. |
 |
Class Notes |