Physical Science - Second Semester Study Guide

Starting point used to describe the location of an object Provides a frame of reference for determining an object’s position.

Object’s distance in a specific direction from a reference point Components: Distance, direction, and reference point are necessary for a complete position description.

Alters the object’s perceived position but not its actual location Consider easily identifiable reference points.

Describing position using two directions Process: Choose reference point, specify reference directions, determine distances along each direction.

Process of changing position relative to a reference point Motion can occur relative to one reference point while being motionless relative to another.

• Distance: Path length traveled • Displacement: Change in position Distance and displacement are equal only in single-direction motion.

Rate of change of position per unit of time Typically measured in meters per second (m/s).

• Constant speed • Instantaneous speed • Average speed Average speed: Total distance traveled divided by total time.

An object’s motion over time Constant speed depicted as a straight line, with slope indicating speed.

Speed and direction of motion Representation: Shown as an arrow with length indicating speed and direction indicating motion.

Measures the change in velocity over time Occurs when speed, direction, or both change.

Acceleration equals the change in velocity divided by the time interval Typically measured in meters per second squared (m/s²).

Speed changes over time Slope indicates acceleration or deceleration.

Attractive force between objects with mass Law of Universal Gravitation describes the relationship between mass, distance, and gravitational force.

Force resisting motion between surfaces Types: Static, sliding, and fluid friction.

An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion continues in uniform motion unless acted upon by a net external force Balanced forces result in no change in velocity.

Property of matter resisting changes in motion Objects remain stationary due to inertia until acted upon by an external force.

F = ma; force equals mass times acceleration Acceleration occurs in the direction of the net force.

Measure of an object’s resistance to change in motion Product of mass and velocity.

Total momentum of a closed system remains constant unless external forces act Elastic and inelastic collisions demonstrate conservation of momentum.

Energy possessed by an object due to its motion Depends on the object’s mass and velocity.

Kinetic energy = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2 Proportional to the square of the velocity and directly proportional to mass.

Stored energy due to position, condition, or composition Types: Gravitational, elastic, and chemical potential energy.

Product of force and displacement when a force acts upon an object Mathematically, W = F × d.