Physics Quarterly Vocabulary

a quantity that has two characteristics: magnitude and direction

a force that is applied to one object by another by touching it

the combination of all forces acting on an object at one time

speed with a direction

energy in motion

the conversion of energy from one form to another

the ability to do work or cause change

the force that resists the motion of two surfaces that are touching

the movement of energy from one object/location to another

the type of force that can attract and repel objects with a magnetic material in them

an attractive force that exists between all objects and is determined by mass and distance

for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

an object’s acceleration is determined by its mass and the force applied to it

an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force

any change in velocity (speeding up, slowing down, changing direction)

the tendency of an object to resist changes to its motion

a measure of how difficult it is to stop a moving object, determined by mass and velocity

a quantity that has only one characteristic - magnitude

stored energy

the force that opposes gravity and holds objects up

the rate at which distance changes compared to time

energy can never be created nor destroyed - only transferred and transformed

in the absence of outside forces, momentum is conserved in a collision (the momentum before the collision = the momentum after the collision)

energy an object or substance has because of its position - determined by mass and height

Energy that is stored in objects that are stretched or compressed by the application of a force

Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom; energy is released when nuclei join together or split apart

Energy stored in the chemical bonds between atoms; energy is released when chemical reactions occur

Examples: energy stored in food, gasoline, coal, wood, and batteries

Energy that an electric current carries through the movement of electrons

The movement of energy through a substance, caused by vibrations and transmitted by waves; cannot travel through a vacuum

Energy that electromagnetic waves (light waves, microwaves, radio waves, etc.) carry; can travel through a vacuum; also known as light energy

Energy due to the motion of the atoms and molecules that make up a substance; also known as heat

The total energy of an object or group of objects determined by its position and motion; an object’s combined potential and kinetic energy