Physics

The study of physical forces and qualities: the scientific study of matter, energy, force, and motion, and the way they relate to each other

The study of matter, motion, energy and forces.

Displacement• The difference between the initial position and the final

position of an object that has moved.

• The process in which an object starts in one place and ends up in another location.

Motion• The process of changing position.

• Changing spots through movement.

Speed• The distance an object moves divided by the time it takes to

move that distance.

• The instance where something moves separated by the amount of time it takes to move the distance.

• Speed= distance divided by time.

Constant Speed• When an object moves the same distance over a given unit of

time.

• An object moving at the same speed in one direction.

Changing Speed• When the distance an object covers in a unit of time increases

or decreases.

• When a moving object gets faster or slower.

Average Speed• You calculate the average speed by dividing the total distance

by the total time.

• Average speed= distance divided by time.

Velocity• The speed and the direction of a moving object.

• How fast and at what angle an object is traveling.

Constant Velocity• An object that moves with a constant speed and its direction

does not change.

• Something that always goes at the same speed and same direction.

Changing Velocity• Velocity changes when either an object’s speed or direction

changes.

• When an object’s speed or direction changes.

Acceleration• The rate of change of velocity per unit of time.

• A measurement of difference in velocity over a timed period.

• Going faster or slower or changing direction in a period of time.

Force• A push or pull of an object.

• To push or pull something.

Contact Force• A push or pull on an object by another object that is touching

it.

• A force that is applied by touching.

• Friction is the most common contact force.

Noncontact Force• A push or pull an object applies to another object without

touching it.

• A force that is applied to another without you seeing it touch.

• Gravity and magnetism are the major noncontact forces.

Gravity• An attractive force that exists between all objects that have

mass.

• A force that pulls on objects together depending on their distance and mass.

Friction• A contact force that resists the sliding of two surfaces that are

touching.

• The resistance that two forces cause or create through touch.

Balanced Forces• Forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force

of zero.

• When forces are equal to each other.

• No movement

Unbalanced Forces• Forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force

that is not zero.

• Forces that act on an object that cause motion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion• Law of Inertia• If the net force on an object is zero then the object’s motion will

not change.

• 8th Grade Terms• An object will keep doing what it is doing.

• An object in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by another force.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion• Law of Acceleration• Acceleration = velocity divided by mass

8th Grade Terms An object’s motion will change in the direction of and proportional to the force acting upon it.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion• Law Reaction

• For every action there is and equal and opposite reaction.