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Physics Essentials

Units, forces, energy and waves

61 cards~10 minReferences included

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4 chapters · 61 cards
  1. 01
    Motion, forces and energy26 cards · ~4 min
  2. 02
    Waves, sound and light20 cards · ~3 min
  3. 03
    Electricity and circuits12 cards · ~2 min
  4. 04
    Describing physical quantities3 cards · ~1 min

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01
Prompt: SI unit of force
ScienceA little curiosity
Physics concept · RECALLSI unit of forceThink it. Then flip it.
02
Prompt: SI unit of energy
ScienceA little curiosity
Physics concept · RECALLSI unit of energyThink it. Then flip it.
03
Prompt: SI unit of power
ScienceA little curiosity
Physics concept · RECALLSI unit of powerThink it. Then flip it.

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  1. 01SI unit of forceRECALL
    newton (N)

    Named after Isaac Newton

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  2. 02SI unit of energyRECALL
    joule (J)

    Also the unit of work

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  3. 03SI unit of powerRECALL
    watt (W)

    One joule per second

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  4. 04SI unit of pressureRECALL
    pascal (Pa)

    One newton per square metre

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  5. 05Force that attracts massesRECALL
    Gravity

    Gives objects weight near Earth

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  6. 06Energy of motionRECALL
    Kinetic energy

    Depends on mass and speed

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  7. 07Stored energy due to positionRECALL
    Potential energy

    Gravitational energy is one example

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  8. 08Opposition to a change in motionRECALL
    Inertia

    Described by Newton's first law

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  9. 09Equal and opposite forcesRECALL
    Newton's third law

    Action and reaction act on different objects

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  10. 10Rate of change of velocityRECALL
    Acceleration

    Measured in metres per second squared

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  11. 11Energy stored in a stretched springRECALL
    Elastic potential energy

    Depends on stiffness and extension

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  12. 12This vector quantity equals mass multiplied by velocity in classical mechanics.RECALL
  13. 13This vector sum of pushes and pulls equals the rate of change of an object's momentum.RECALL
    Net force

    A change in momentum is an impulse; the rate of change of momentum is net force.

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  14. 14This energy transfer equals force multiplied by displacement in the force's direction.RECALL
  15. 15This physical quantity is the rate of doing work.RECALL
  16. 16This ratio compares useful energy output with total energy input.RECALL
    Efficiency

    Usually expressed as a percentage

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  17. 17Stretching an ideal spring stores this type of energy.RECALL
    Elastic potential energy

    It depends on stiffness and extension

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  18. 18This broad energy category depends on position or configuration rather than motion.RECALL
    Potential energy

    Gravitational potential is one example

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  19. 19This inward net force keeps an object following a circular path.RECALL
    Centripetal force

    It points toward the centre

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  20. 20This contact force opposes sliding, or the tendency to slide, between surfaces.RECALL
    Friction

    It can produce heat

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  21. 21This steady falling speed occurs when drag balances weight.RECALL
    Terminal velocity

    A falling object can approach it

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  22. 22This quantity equals normal force divided by the area over which it acts.RECALL
    Pressure

    Measured in pascals

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  23. 23This material property equals mass divided by volume.RECALL
    Density

    It helps explain floating and sinking

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  24. 24A fluid exerts this upward force on an immersed object.RECALL
    Buoyant force

    It is related to displaced fluid

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  25. 25This principle equates buoyant force with the weight of displaced fluid.RECALL
    Archimedes' principle

    The buoyant force equals the displaced fluid's weight

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  26. 26This law makes an ideal spring's restoring force proportional to its displacement.RECALL
    Hooke's law

    Extension is proportional to force within a limit

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  27. 27SI unit of frequencyRECALL
    hertz (Hz)

    One cycle per second

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  28. 28Speed of light in a vacuum · estimate in kilometres per secondESTIMATE
    299792.458

    The exact defined speed is 299,792,458 metres per second, or 299,792.458 kilometres per second.

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  29. 29Wave property measured in hertzRECALL
    Frequency

    Counts cycles per second

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  30. 30Distance between wave peaksRECALL
    Wavelength

    Usually represented by lambda

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  31. 31Bending of light between mediaRECALL
    Refraction

    Light changes speed at the boundary

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  32. 32Bouncing of light from a surfaceRECALL
    Reflection

    Incidence and reflection angles are equal

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  33. 33Splitting white light into coloursRECALL
    Dispersion

    A prism can produce a spectrum

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  34. 34Sound cannot travel throughRECALL
    A vacuum

    Sound needs a material medium

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  35. 35Particle of lightRECALL
    Photon

    A quantum of electromagnetic radiation

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  36. 36This quantity counts complete wave cycles per second.RECALL
  37. 37This quantity is the time taken for one complete wave cycle.RECALL
    Period

    It is the reciprocal of frequency

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  38. 38This wave measurement is the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.RECALL
    Amplitude

    It relates to wave energy

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  39. 39Longitudinal wave · particle vibration direction relative to wave travelRECALL
    Parallel to the wave's direction

    Sound in air is longitudinal

    Share this card ↗Source: Physics
  40. 40Transverse wave · particle vibration direction relative to wave travelRECALL
    Perpendicular to the wave's direction

    Light is transverse

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  41. 41This wave family includes light, radio and X-rays and can travel through a vacuum.RECALL
    Electromagnetic waves

    They do not need a medium

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  42. 42This colour of visible light has the longest wavelength.RECALL
    Red

    It has the lowest visible frequency

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  43. 43This colour of visible light has the shortest wavelength.RECALL
    Violet

    It has the highest visible frequency

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  44. 44This thicker-centred lens converges parallel rays of light in air.RECALL
    Convex lens

    It is thicker in the middle

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  45. 45This thinner-centred lens spreads parallel rays of light in air.RECALL
    Concave lens

    It is thinner in the middle

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  46. 46This wave behaviour produces spreading around obstacles or through openings.RECALL
    Diffraction

    It is strongest when the gap is comparable to the wavelength

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  47. 47SI unit of electric currentRECALL
    ampere (A)

    One of seven SI base units

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  48. 48SI unit of resistanceRECALL
    ohm (Ω)

    Named after Georg Ohm

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  49. 49Charge of an electronRECALL
    Negative

    A proton has positive charge

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  50. 50Unit of electrical potentialRECALL
    volt (V)

    One joule per coulomb

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  51. 51This quantity measures the rate of electric charge flow.RECALL
    Electric current

    Measured in amperes

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  52. 52This common term names electrical potential difference.RECALL
  53. 53This property measures opposition to electric current, in ohms.RECALL
    Electrical resistance

    Measured in ohms

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  54. 54This law relates voltage, current and resistance.RECALL
  55. 55In a series circuit, this electrical quantity is the same through every component.RECALL
  56. 56In a parallel circuit, this electrical quantity is the same across each branch.RECALL
    Voltage

    Each branch shares the same potential difference

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  57. 57Charge moves readily through this class of material, which includes copper.RECALL
    Conductor

    Metals are common conductors

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  58. 58This class of material strongly resists charge flow; glass and rubber are common examples.RECALL
    Insulator

    Rubber and glass are examples

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  59. 59SI unit of temperatureRECALL
    kelvin (K)

    An SI base unit

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  60. 60This type of quantity has both magnitude and direction.RECALL
  61. 61This type of quantity has magnitude without a direction.RECALL

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