All Flashcards
Define 'inertial frame of reference'.
A frame where Newton's laws hold true; objects at rest stay at rest, and objects in motion stay in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a force.
What is 'rotational velocity' (ω)?
How fast an object is rotating, measured in radians per second (rad/s). It’s the rotational version of linear velocity.
Define 'rotational acceleration' (α).
How quickly the rotational velocity changes, measured in radians per second squared (rad/s²). It’s the rotational version of linear acceleration.
What is 'centripetal acceleration' (ac)?
Acceleration towards the center of a circular path.
Define 'net force'.
The vector sum of all forces acting on an object.
Define 'vector'.
A quantity with both magnitude and direction. Examples: force, displacement, velocity, acceleration.
What is a 'scalar' quantity?
A quantity with only magnitude. Examples: mass, time, speed.
What is the effect of applying a net force on an object?
The object accelerates in the direction of the net force (Newton's Second Law).
What is the effect of an object moving in a circle?
It experiences centripetal acceleration towards the center of the circle.
What happens when you push on a wall (Newton's Third Law)?
The wall pushes back on you with an equal and opposite force.
What are the differences between inertial and non-inertial frames of reference?
Inertial: Newton's laws hold true, non-accelerating | Non-inertial: Newton's laws don't apply, accelerating or under strong gravity.
What is the difference between rotational velocity and rotational acceleration?
Rotational velocity: How fast an object is rotating | Rotational acceleration: How quickly the rotational velocity changes.
Differentiate between a vector and a scalar quantity.
Vector: Has magnitude and direction | Scalar: Has only magnitude.