Physics Vocabulary

5th Grade Term 3

Energy• energy- the ability to do work or cause change• kinetic- the energy of motion• potential- energy of position or condition• mechanical- energy related to motion of an object or its potential

to move• thermal- energy in the moving particles of an object• chemical- energy in the bonds between atoms• electrical- energy of moving electrical charges• electromagnetic- radiant or wave energy that can travel through

empty space• nuclear- energy in the nucleus of an atom• conservation- law that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it

only changes forms

Force• force- a push or a pull (measured in newtons)• friction- a force that opposes motion when two surfaces are in contact

with each other• magnetism- a force that attracts or repels objects with magnetic poles• gravity- a force that pulls together objects with mass• balanced forces- forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction

which produce no change in motion• acceleration- any change in the motion of an object, either speed or

direction• net force- the total result of all the forces acting on an object• work- the result of applying force to move an object some distance

(measured in joules)• power- the rate at which work is done (measured in watts)• engineering- the process of using science knowledge to design a product

that solves a problem

Machines• machine- a device that makes work easier by changing the

amount of force , the direction of the force, or the distance over which the force is applied

• load- object to be moved or resistance• effort- the force used to do work, lift a load• lever-a bar that turns on a fixed point• fulcrum (pivot)- the point around which a lever turns• inclined plane (ramp)- a flat sloped surface• wedge- an inclined plane that moves, used to separate objects• screw- an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, creating

threads• pulley- a grooved wheel through which a rope runs• wheel and axle- two different size round objects that rotate

around an axis

Motion• motion- change in position• reference point- a defined position used to determine motion

by comparison• speed- change in distance over time (units: mph or m/s)• velocity- speed with direction• momentum- product of mass and velocity; the force needed to

change the motion of an object• inertia- tendency for an object to continue moving or stay at

rest• reaction- a force that is equal and opposite to the action• scientific law- a statement that is used to explain why

something happens in nature