IPC Midterm Study Guide (same order as the Study Guide from Mr.
Arens)
By Abel Haile
IPC-physics and chemistry
Science-Observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and
theoretical explanation of phenomena.
Scientific Law-a hypothesis that has been tested over and over again has not been
contradicted
Observation (in the sense of a looking/finding something) -Generally qualitative analysis
of any experiment, involves your senses
Hypothesis-A educated guess, to answer the question
Model-a system or thing used as an example to follow or imitate
Theory-a synthesis of facts and well tested hypothesis
Matter-anything that has mass and takes up space
Volume-the amount of space that matter takes up
SI unit of volume- liter
The measuring tool for volume-the graduated cylinder
Mass-the amount of matter in an object
SI unit for mass- a gram
Measuring tool for mass- the balance
States of matter-solid, liquid, gas, plasma
Laboratory report-purpose, procedure, data, observation, conclusion
Purpose of a lab-a short statement of what the nature or reason of the experiment or
demonstration is
procedure of a lab report- there is an account of how these experiments will be
conducted
data of a lab report-Generally quantitative analysis of an experiment
Observation (in the sense of a lab)-Generally qualitative analysis of any experiment,
involves your senses
Conclusion of a report-written account of the summary of your data and or observations
Length-the SI unit of is meters, a meter stick is used to measure length
Temperature-the SI unit is a degree, the thermometer is used to measure temperature
Density-the amount of matter per unit volume(matter/volume)
Scientific method-an orderly procedure for gaining organizing and applying new
knowledge
the five steps of the scientific method-1) recognize the problem/question 2) form a
hypothesis 3) perform the experiment 4) results 5) conclusion
trials-to ensure constant results
Control-a standard used as a comparison
Variable-anything that can be changed in the experiment
Mechanics-study of the motion of objects
Kinematics-how objects move
Dynamics-why objects move
Speed-the distance traveled per time
Velocity-displacement divided by time
Acceleration- the rate at which reality changes with time, the change may be magnitude,
direction or both
The Deceleration-negative acceleration, when something slows down
Scalar-any quality that has only magnitude(no direction)
Vector-any quality that has both magnitude and direction
Falling objects-freefall
Freefall-falling under the influence of gravity with no other force present
terminal velocity-terminal speed with direction of motion
momentum-inertia in speed motion(mv)
conservation of momentum-while no external net force acts on an object or system of
objects, no change of momentum takes place
impulse-the product of force acting on an object at the time during which it acts
Collision-an instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another
Elastic collision-collision in which objects rebound without lasting deformation or
generation of heat
inelastic collision-collisions in which the colliding objects become distorted, generate
heat, and possibly sticking together(coupling)
Chemical energy-part of the energy in a substance That can be released by chemical
reaction
Thermal energy-The total energy(kinetic + potential) of the submicroscopic particles in a
substance
Electric energy-energy newly derived from electrical potential energy
Light(radiant) energy-the energy of electromagnetic waves
SI unit of light energy- joule
nuclear energy-the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion
law of conservation of energy-energy can be neither created nor destroyed it can change
from one type of energy to another but the total amount of energy never changes
force-a push or pull
Newton's first law-an object at rest tends to stay at rest and objects at motion stay in
motion in a straight line path
Newton's second law-when net forces act on an object, the object will accelerate
Newton's third law-whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, this second
object exerts an equal and opposite force on the 1st project
projectile motion-A form of motion in which an object is thrown obliquely near the Earth's
surface, and it moves along a curved path under the force of gravity only
satellite motion the force of gravity acts upon the high-speed satellite to deviate its
trajectory from a straight line, inertial path
Law of gravitational attraction greater-the masses of the interacting objects the greater
the gravitational pull
gravitational force the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially
the attraction of the earth mass for bodies near its surface
universal law of gravity-every mass attracts every other mess with a force that is directly
proportional to the product of the two interacting masses
work-the product of the force and the distance through which the force moves(W=fd)
energy-the property of a system that enables it to do work
Kinetic Energy-the energy that a body contains because of its mas and speed
Potential Energy-stored energy
Gravitation Potential- the energy an object has due to its position above Earth, energy
due to its height
Temperature Scales- Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin
Fahrenheit 32 degrees-water freezes
Fahrenheit 212 degrees-water boils
Celsius 0 degrees-water freezes
Celsius 100 degrees-water boils
Kelvin 273.15-water freezes
Kelvin 373 degrees-water boils
Kelvin-Starts at Absolute Zero degrees
Heat Energy-the transfer of energy from a high-temperature body to a lower-temperature
one
Electricity- a form of energy resulting the existence of charged particles(electrons/
protons) either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current
static electric-charge having gathered or on an object that cannot conduct a current
law of conservation of charge-when something is charged no electrons are created or
destroyed but transferred from one material to another
electric discharge-electrical conduction through a gas and in the plot electric field
electric current-the rate of electric flow
ampere-the rate of flow of one coulomb of charge per second
insulator-a substance or device that is not good at conducting electricity
conductor-a material or device that conducts or transmits heat electricity or sound
resistance-the opposition of material offers to a moving charge
ohms-the unit in which resistance is measured
voltage-a form of electrical pressure
volts-the SI unit of electromotive force
Circuit-any path along which electrons can flow
series circuit-an electric circuit in which electrical devices are connected in such a way
that the electric current exists in all of them. A single path
parallel circuit-an electric circuit in which electrical devices are connected in such a way
that the voltage acts across each one and any one single device completes the circuit
independently of all the others
electric power-the rate of energy transfer or rate of doing work
kilowatt-a measure of 1000 watts of power
kilowatt hour a measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of 1000
watts per one hour
magnetism-a physical phenomenon produced by the motion of electric charge resulting
in attractive and repulsive forces between objects
the poles-North or South magnetic pole
law of magnetic poles-like poles repel each other opposite poles attract each other
induced magnetism-voltage is induced or caused by the relative motion
AC current-current that flows in One Direction than the Other
DC current-current that flows in One Direction
electric motor-electric energy is the input and mechanical energy the output
armature-the rotating coil or coils of a Dynamo or electric motor
transformer step up-one whose secondary voltage is greater than its primary voltage
transformer step down-one who's secondary voltage is less than its primary voltage
waves-a disturbance in matter or empty space
transverse wave-a wave that moves matter at right angles to the direction which it travels
longitudinal wave-pushes matter back and forth moves parallel to the direction it travels
Crest-the top of the wave
Trough-the bottom of the wave
Amplitude-the height of the wave
Wavelength- lambda
wave speed-the speed at which waves pass a particular point
Frequency-the number of crests per unit of time
Hertz-number of waves per second
Reflection-to bounce back
Diffraction of sound-bending of sound waves around obstacles.
Refraction of sound-the ability of a sound wave speed being reduced while it's passing
through a medium.
angle of incidence-the angle that an incident line or ray makes with a perpendicular to
the surface at the point of incidence
angle of reflection-the angle made by reflected ray with a perpendicular to the reflected
surface
interference-fundamental waves cancelling one another
constructive interference-if the Crest of one wave meets the Crest of another wave of the
same frequency at the same point then the magnitude of the displacement is the sum of
the individual magnitudes
destructive interference-if a Crest of one wave meets the trough of another wave then the
magnitude of the displacement is equal to the difference of the individual magnitudes
acoustics-the study of how materials influence sound
decibel-a unit to measure intensity
Who invented the decibel scale-Alexander Graham bell
Echo-a reflected sound that returns to you
fundamental the slowest vibration lowest pitch
intensity-the actual measurement of loudness
intensity level-the comparison of sound energy measured in decibel
loudness-the perception of the rate of sound energy not a measurement
harmonics-possible modes of vibrations
music-combinations of sounds that are pleasing to hear
noise-bothersome harsh unappealing sounds
Noise Pollution-the excess of unwanted sounds
Doppler effect-the pitch is higher toward observer pitch is lower away from server
Overtone-whole number multiple of fundamental frequency
open pipe-a tube not sealed on either end
closed pipe-a tube open and sealed at one end
pitch-a quality that describes the Highness or lowness of a sound
sonar-sound navigation and ranging
speed of sound-340 meters per second at 20 C
Vibration-the back-and-forth movement of matter
Refraction of light-reflection is the change in the direction of a wavefront at the interface
between two different media, so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it
originated.
Diffraction of light-diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave
encounters an obstacle. In classics physics, the fraction phenomenon is described as
the parent bending of waves around small obstacles and spreading out of waves past
small openings.
Resonance-the response of the body when forcing a frequency that matches its natural
frequency
Harmonics-a component frequency of an oscillation or wave
Overtone-a component of any oscillation whose frequency is an integral multiple of the
fundamental frequency.
Light-the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
Speed of Light- 299,792458 meters per second
Electromagnetic spectrum-the range of electromagnetic waves extending in frequency
from radio to gamma rays
Electromagnetic waves-a wave emitted by vibrating electric charges and composed of
vibrating electric and magnetic fields that regenerate each other
Visible light-electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
Mirrors-a reflective surface, now typically of glass coated with a metal amalgam, that
reflects a clear image
Flat mirror-a plane mirror is a mirror with a plane of reflective surface for light rays
striking a plane mirror the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence
curved mirror-mirror with a curved reflective surface which may be either convex or
concave
Lens (Concave)-the light does not go through the lens, the reflects back
Lens (Convex)-the light goes through the lens
Lens (Divergent)-light reflects and goes away from each other
Lens (Convergent)-light reflects and comes together
