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SI units : the international system of units that scientists in most countries have agreed to use; includes units such as meters, liters, and grams
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-glossary
significant figures : express the precision of a measuring tool used to measure a value
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-glossary
theory : an explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of researchers
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-glossary
uncertainty : a quantitative measure of how much your measured values deviate from a standard or expected value
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-glossary
units : a standard used for expressing and comparing measurements
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-glossary
Science seeks to discover and describe the underlying order and simplicity in nature.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Physics is the most basic of the sciences, concerning itself with energy, matter, space and time, and their interactions.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Scientific laws and theories express the general truths of nature and the body of knowledge they encompass. These laws of nature are rules that all natural processes appear to follow.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Physical quantities are a characteristic or property of an object that can be measured or calculated from other measurements.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Units are standards for expressing and comparing the measurement of physical quantities. All units can be expressed as combinations of four fundamental units.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
The four fundamental units we will use in this text are the meter (for length), the kilogram (for mass), the second (for time), and the ampere (for electric current). These units are part of the metric system, which uses powers of 10 to relate quantities over the vast ranges encountered in nature.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
The four fundamental units are abbreviated as follows: meter, m; kilogram, kg; second, s; and ampere, A. The metric system also uses a standard set of prefixes to denote each order of magnitude greater than or lesser than the fundamental unit itself.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Unit conversions involve changing a value expressed in one type of unit to another type of unit. This is done by using conversion factors, which are ratios relating equal quantities of different units.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Accuracy of a measured value refers to how close a measurement is to the correct value. The uncertainty in a measurement is an estimate of the amount by which the measurement result may differ from this value.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Precision of measured values refers to how close the agreement is between repeated measurements.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
The precision of ameasuring toolis related to the size of its measurement increments. The smaller the measurement increment, the more precise the tool.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Significant figures express the precision of a measuring tool.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
When multiplying or dividing measured values, the final answer can contain only as many significant figures as the least precise value.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
When adding or subtracting measured values, the final answer cannot contain more decimal places than the least precise value.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
Scientists often approximate the values of quantities to perform calculations and analyze systems.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-section-summary
acceleration : the rate of change in velocity; the change in velocity over time
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
acceleration due to gravity : acceleration of an object as a result of gravity
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
average acceleration : the change in velocity divided by the time over which it changes
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
average speed : distance traveled divided by time during which motion occurs
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
average velocity : displacement divided by time over which displacement occurs
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
deceleration : acceleration in the direction opposite to velocity; acceleration that results in a decrease in velocity
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
dependent variable : the variable that is being measured; usually plotted along theyy-axis
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
displacement : the change in position of an object
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
distance : the magnitude of displacement between two positions
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
distance traveled : the total length of the path traveled between two positions
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
elapsed time : the difference between the ending time and beginning time
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
free-fall : the state of movement that results from gravitational force only
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
independent variable : the variable that the dependent variable is measured with respect to; usually plotted along thexx-axis
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
instantaneous acceleration : acceleration at a specific point in time
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
instantaneous speed : magnitude of the instantaneous velocity
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
instantaneous velocity : velocity at a specific instant, or the average velocity over an infinitesimal time interval
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
kinematics : the study of motion without considering its causes
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
model : simplified description that contains only those elements necessary to describe the physics of a physical situation
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
position : the location of an object at a particular time
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
scalar : a quantity that is described by magnitude, but not direction
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
slope : the difference inyy-value (the rise) divided by the difference inxx-value (the run) of two points on a straight line
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
time : change, or the interval over which change occurs
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
vector : a quantity that is described by both magnitude and direction
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
y-intercept : they-y-value whenxx= 0, or when the graph crosses theyy-axis
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-glossary
Kinematics is the study of motion without considering its causes. In this chapter, it is limited to motion along a straight line, called one-dimensional motion.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Displacement is the change in position of an object.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
In symbols, displacementΔxΔxis defined to beΔx=xf−x0,Δx=xf−x0,wherex0x0is the initial position andxfxfis the final position. In this text, the Greek letterΔΔ(delta) always means “change in” whatever quantity follows it. The SI unit for displacement is the meter (m). Displacement has a direction as well as...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
When you start a problem, assign which direction will be positive.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Distance is the magnitude of displacement between two positions.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Distance traveled is the total length of the path traveled between two positions.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
A vector is any quantity that has magnitude and direction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
A scalar is any quantity that has magnitude but no direction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Displacement and velocity are vectors, whereas distance and speed are scalars.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
In one-dimensional motion, direction is specified by a plus or minus sign to signify left or right, up or down, and the like.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Time is measured in terms of change, and its SI unit is the second (s). Elapsed time for an event isΔt=tf−t0,Δt=tf−t0,wheretftfis the final time andt0t0is the initial time. The initial time is often taken to be zero, as if measured with a stopwatch; the elapsed time is then justtt.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Average velocityv-v-is defined as displacement divided by the travel time. In symbols, average velocity isv-=ΔxΔt=xf−x0tf−t0.v-=ΔxΔt=xf−x0tf−t0.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
The SI unit for velocity is m/s.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Velocity is a vector and thus has a direction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Instantaneous velocityvvis the velocity at a specific instant or the average velocity for an infinitesimal interval.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Instantaneous speed is the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Instantaneous speed is a scalar quantity, as it has no direction specified.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the elapsed time. (Average speed isnotthe magnitude of the average velocity.) Speed is a scalar quantity; it has no direction associated with it.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. In symbols,average accelerationa-a-isa-=ΔvΔt=vf−v0tf−t0.a-=ΔvΔt=vf−v0tf−t0.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
The SI unit for acceleration ism/s2m/s2.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Acceleration is a vector, and thus has a both a magnitude and direction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Acceleration can be caused by either a change in the magnitude or the direction of the velocity.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Instantaneous accelerationaais the acceleration at a specific instant in time.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Deceleration is an acceleration with a direction opposite to that of the velocity.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
To simplify calculations we take acceleration to be constant, so thata-=aa-=aat all times.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
We also take initial time to be zero.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Initial position and velocity are given a subscript 0; final values have no subscript. Thus,Δt=tΔx=x−x0Δv=v−v0Δt=tΔx=x−x0Δv=v−v0
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
The following kinematic equations for motion with constantaaare useful:x=x0+v-tx=x0+v-tv-=v0+v2v-=v0+v2v=v0+atv=v0+atx=x0+v0t+12at2x=x0+v0t+12at2v2=v02+2ax−x0v2=v02+2ax−x0
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
In vertical motion,yyis substituted forxx.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
The six basic problem solving steps for physics are:Step 1. Examine the situation to determine which physical principles are involved.Step 2. Make a list of what is given or can be inferred from the problem as stated (identify the knowns).Step 3. Identify exactly what needs to be determined in the problem (identify the...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Step 1. Examine the situation to determine which physical principles are involved.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Step 2. Make a list of what is given or can be inferred from the problem as stated (identify the knowns).
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Step 3. Identify exactly what needs to be determined in the problem (identify the unknowns).
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Step 4. Find an equation or set of equations that can help you solve the problem.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Step 5. Substitute the knowns along with their units into the appropriate equation, and obtain numerical solutions complete with units.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Step 6. Check the answer to see if it is reasonable: Does it make sense?
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
An object in free-fall experiences constant acceleration if air resistance is negligible.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
On Earth, all free-falling objects have an acceleration due to gravitygg, which averagesg=9.80 m/s2.g=9.80 m/s2.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Whether the accelerationashould be taken as+g+gor−g−gis determined by your choice of coordinate system. If you choose the upward direction as positive,a=−g=−9.80 m/s2a=−g=−9.80 m/s2is negative. In the opposite case,a=+g=9.80 m/s2a=+g=9.80 m/s2is positive. Since acceleration is constant, the kinematic equati...
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
For objects in free-fall, up is normally taken as positive for displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Graphs of motion can be used to analyze motion.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Graphical solutions yield identical solutions to mathematical methods for deriving motion equations.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
The slope of a graph of displacementxxvs. timettis velocityvv.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
The slope of a graph of velocityvvvs. timettgraph is accelerationaa.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
Average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration can all be obtained by analyzing graphs.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/2-section-summary
air resistance : a frictional force that slows the motion of objects as they travel through the air; when solving basic physics problems, air resistance is assumed to be zero
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
analytical method : the method of determining the magnitude and direction of a resultant vector using the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric identities
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
classical relativity : the study of relative velocities in situations where speeds are less than about 1% of the speed of light—that is, less than 3000 km/s
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
commutative : refers to the interchangeability of order in a function; vector addition is commutative because the order in which vectors are added together does not affect the final sum
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
component (of a 2-d vector) : a piece of a vector that points in either the vertical or the horizontal direction; every 2-d vector can be expressed as a sum of two vertical and horizontal vector components
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
direction (of a vector) : the orientation of a vector in space
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
head (of a vector) : the end point of a vector; the location of the tip of the vector’s arrowhead; also referred to as the “tip”
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
head-to-tail method : a method of adding vectors in which the tail of each vector is placed at the head of the previous vector
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
kinematics : the study of motion without regard to mass or force
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
magnitude (of a vector) : the length or size of a vector; magnitude is a scalar quantity
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary
motion : displacement of an object as a function of time
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/3-glossary