| acceleration |
The rate at which an object's velocity changes with time. It involves a change in the speed (increase or decrease) OR direction OR both speed and direction. |
| amplitude |
The height of the wave |
| centimeter |
A unit of measure in the metric system of measurement equivalent to 1/100 of a meter or 0.3927 inch; abbreviated is cm. |
| centripetal force |
The force making a motion is a circle possible, always directed to the center of the circle |
| constructive interference |
When waves align and the resulting wave has troughs and humps that are larger. |
| controlled variable |
An object or condition you want to remain constant when you carry out a scientific investigation. |
| destructive interference |
When waves align and the resulting wave has troughs and humps that are smaller. |
| electromagnetic |
Relating to the interplay between electric and magnetic fields. In particular, light (as well as x-rays, microwaves, gamma rays, etc.) |
| electromagnetic waves |
Radiation consisting of waves of energy sent through space and matter associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge |
| force |
Push or pull that gives energy to an object, sometimes causing a change in the motion of the object. |
| frame of reference |
Any system for specifying the precise location of objects in space |
| frequency |
The number of back-and-forth cycles per second, in a wave or wave-like process. |
| friction |
A force that resists motion between two objects in contact. |
| g |
A unit of mass |
| gravitational field |
Field created by any object with mass, extending outward in all directions, which determines the influence of that object on all others. |
| Heat |
The transfer of energy from one object at a higher temperature to another object at a lower temperature. |
| hologram |
Laser-generated image with three-dimensional properties |
| inertia |
The tendency of matter to remain at rest if at rest or to remain in motion in a straight line if in motion. |
| kgm/s2 |
The base units that make up a Newton (a unit of force) |
| kinetic energy |
The energy possessed by a moving object. = ½ mv2 |
| longitudinal waves |
A wave in which the individual particles of a medium vibrate back and forth in the direction in which the wave travels. Sound is this type of wave |
| m |
A unit of length equal to 1 meter |
| m/s |
A unit of speed meters per second |
| m/s2 |
A unit of acceleration meters per second squared |
| manipulated variable |
Object or condition that you change on purpose to test your hypothesis |
| mass |
A measure of how much material something contains. This shouldn't be confused with weight, which is a measure of the force of gravity on an object. |
| mechanical waves |
Waves which travel through a medium Sound waves, water waves and waves in solid objects |
| meter |
The standard unit of length in the SI system of measure that equals 39.37 inches. |
| momentum |
Mass times velocity; a quantity that determines the potential force that an object can impart to another object by collision |
| motion |
A change in the position or location of one thing with respect to another |
| net force |
Sum of all the forces acting on an object |
| photovoltaic cell |
An electronic device consisting of layers of semiconductor materials that is capable of converting light directly into electricity. |
| potential energy |
Stored energy of a material, a result of its position in an electric, magnetic, or gravitational field PE=mgh |
| primary or P waves, |
P waves, or compressional wave, are seismic body waves that shakes the ground back and forth in the same direction as the direction the wave is moving. |
| reflection |
The change in direction (or return) of waves striking a surface |
| refraction |
Waves change direction as they pass from one medium to another. |
| responding variable |
Object or condition that changes when you change the manipulated variable in a scientific investigation. |
| secondary or S |
S waves, are seismic body waves that shakes the ground back and forth perpendicular to the direction the waves are moving |
| SI system |
A complete system of units of measurement for scientists; fundamental quantities are length (meter) and mass (kilogram) and time (second) and electric current (ampere) and temperature (Kelvin) and amount of matter
(mole) and luminous intensity (candela) |
| slope of graph |
The mathematical result of the change in the y axis of a line divided by the corresponding change on the x axis |
| sound |
Mechanical energy vibrations transmitted as waves through a solid, liquid, or a gas that can be detected by the human ear |
| speed |
Distance traveled per unit time |
| speed of light |
The speed at which electromagnetic radiation propagates in a vacuum; it is defined as 299 792 458 m/s |
| standing wave |
A wave that appears to be standing still; it occurs when waves with the same frequency (and wavelength) moving in opposite directions interfere with each other |
| subsystem |
A major part of a system which itself has the characteristics of a system |
| system |
Group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent parts made up of matter and energy that form a complex whole |
| thermal energy |
Energy in the form of heat. The total internal kinetic and potential energy of an object due to the random motion of its atoms and molecules. |
| thought experiment |
An experiment that cannot be or is not carried out in practice; it is reasoned through by thought and intuition. |
| transverse waves |
A wave in which the vibrations of the medium are perpendicular to the direction the wave is moving |
| unbalanced force |
A force that is not countered by another force in the opposite direction. |
| vector |
A measurement having both magnitude and direction, velocity, acceleration and force It may be represented as a directed line segment |
| velocity |
Rate of change of position or direction of an object |
| wave crest |
The highest part of a wave. The curved tops or ridges of an oscillating wave. |
| wave interference |
The superposition (overlapping) of two or more waves resulting in a new wave pattern |
| wave medium |
The material that can carry a mechanical wave |
| wave period |
The time elapsed for a wave to travel the distance of one wavelength. |
| wave speed |
The velocity of a traveling wave |
| wave superposition |
The addition of two or more waves to produce a new wave. |
| wave trough |
The lowest part of a wave, between successive crests |
| wavelength |
The distance measured from crest to crest of one complete wave or cycle. |
| weight |
The force of gravity acting on a body, equal to the mass of the body multiplied by the acceleration of gravity |
| work |
The transfer of energy from one object or system to another by applying a force over a distance. The formula is (force) x (distance). |