Chapter 1: Foundations of Physics
- SI Units
The International System of Units, the modern form of the metric system.
Go to Chapter 1, Section units-and-dimensions - Dimensional Analysis
A method of problem-solving that uses the dimensions of physical quantities.
Go to Chapter 1, Section units-and-dimensions - Coordinate System
A framework to define positions in space using coordinates.
Go to Chapter 1, Section coordinate-systems - Cartesian Coordinates
A coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely by a pair of numerical coordinates.
Go to Chapter 1, Section coordinate-systems - Vector
A quantity with both magnitude (size or length) and direction.
Go to Chapter 1, Section introduction-to-vectors - Scalar
A quantity that has only magnitude (size) but no direction.
Go to Chapter 1, Section introduction-to-vectors - Magnitude
The size, length, or strength of a vector.
Go to Chapter 1, Section introduction-to-vectors - Direction
The orientation or course of a vector in space.
Go to Chapter 1, Section introduction-to-vectors
Chapter 2: Kinematics in One Dimension
- Position
The location of an object at a particular time.
Go to Chapter 2, Section position-and-displacement - Displacement
Change in position of an object; a vector quantity.
Go to Chapter 2, Section position-and-displacement - Distance
The total path length traveled by an object; a scalar quantity.
Go to Chapter 2, Section position-and-displacement - Velocity
Rate of change of position with time; a vector quantity.
Go to Chapter 2, Section velocity - Speed
Rate of change of distance with time; a scalar quantity.
Go to Chapter 2, Section velocity - Average Velocity
Total displacement divided by total time.
Go to Chapter 2, Section velocity - Instantaneous Velocity
Velocity at a specific instant in time.
Go to Chapter 2, Section velocity - Acceleration
Rate of change of velocity with time; a vector quantity.
Go to Chapter 2, Section acceleration - Kinematic Equations
Mathematical equations that describe motion with constant acceleration.
Go to Chapter 2, Section kinematic-equations - Free Fall
Motion under the influence of gravity alone.
Go to Chapter 2, Section free-fall
Chapter 3: Kinematics in Two Dimensions
Chapter 4: Dynamics & Newton's Laws of Motion
- Force
An interaction that can change an object's motion; a vector quantity.
Go to Chapter 4, Section introduction-to-forces - Net Force
The vector sum of all forces acting on an object.
Go to Chapter 4, Section introduction-to-forces - Newton's First Law
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion, unless acted upon by a net force.
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-first-law - Inertia
The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-first-law - Free-Body Diagram
A diagram showing all forces acting on an object.
Go to Chapter 4, Section free-body-diagrams - Newton's Second Law
The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-second-law - Newton's Third Law
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-third-law - Action-Reaction Pair
Two forces that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, acting on different objects.
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-third-law - Normal Force
The perpendicular contact force exerted by a surface on an object resting on it, preventing the object from passing through the surface.
Go to Chapter 4, Section free-body-diagrams - Weight
The gravitational force exerted on an object by Earth (or another celestial body), always directed toward the center of the planet.
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-second-law - Friction
The force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. Can be static (preventing motion) or kinetic (opposing existing motion).
Go to Chapter 4, Section free-body-diagrams - Applied Force
Any external force applied to an object by a person, machine, or other external agent.
Go to Chapter 4, Section newtons-second-law