Physics Unit: Force & Motion What is physical science?

A. Physical science is a field of science that studies matter and energy. B. Physical science has 2 main branches:

1. PHYSICS: the study of how matter and energy interact •  robotics, nuclear energy, solar

panels 2. CHEMISTRY: the study of the

structure, makeup, and changes of matter •  chemicals, acids & bases,

medicines

What is energy? A.  ENERGY: the ability to do work or

make something happen B.  All forms of energy fall under two

categories: 1.  POTENTIAL ENERGY: stored

energy that could make something happen a.  Chemical Energy b.  Nuclear Energy c.  Stored Mechanical Energy d.  Gravitational Energy

2.  KINETIC ENERGY: used energy that is making something happen a.  Radiant Energy b.  Thermal Energy c.  Motion d.  Electrical Energy e.  Sound

What are the different forms of energy?

A.  There are many different forms of energy to make things happen.

B.  Below are 6 of the major forms: 1.  MECHANICAL ENERGY: the

energy in moving objects 2.  ELECTRICAL ENERGY: energy

from the flow of electrons 3.  ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY:

energy in the form electrical and magnetic waves that can travel through space

4.  HEAT ENERGY: thermal energy that comes from moving particles of matter (friction)

5.  CHEMICAL ENERGY: energy that holds particles of matter together (chemical bonds)

6.  NUCLEAR ENERGY: energy stored in an atom’s nucleus

What is a wave? A.  WAVE: a disturbance that transports

energy from one place to another. 1.  A wave is energy that travels over a

distance. 2.  There are two major forms of waves:

a.  MECHANICAL WAVES: waves that travel through matter like air or water

b.  ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES: waves that can travel through matter or empty space

What is a wave? B.  Waves that travel through matter can do it one of two ways:

1.  TRANSVERSE WAVE: waves that move up and down a.  There are two parts to a transverse wave

i.  CREST: the highest point of a wave ii.  TROUGH: the lowest point of a wave

2.  LONGITUDINAL WAVE: waves that move back and forth a.  There are two parts to a longitudinal wave

i.  COMPRESSION: where the particles are close together ii.  RAREFACTION: where particles are far apart

What is mechanical energy? A.  MECHANICAL ENERGY: the

energy an object has that causes it to move

B.  Mechanical energy can come in one of two ways: 1.  STORED MECHANICAL ENERGY:

potential mechanical energy that could cause an object to move

2.  MOTION: kinetic mechanical energy that causes an object to move

C. A force acting on an object is required for mechanical energy

What is a Force? A.  FORCE: a push or pull exerted on an object B.  To describe a force, you must know a force’s size and

direction C.  Size and direction can cause one of two situations:

1.  BALANCED FORCES: forces on an object equal in size but opposite in direction

2.  UNBALANCED FORCES: forces on an object that are no longer balanced, causing a change in the motion of an object

How is a force depicted, described, and measured?

A.  A force is often depicted with arrows of different sizes. 1.  Arrows show direction 2.  Different sized arows show

how strong the force is B.  Forces are measured using

instruments: 1. A spring scale is used to measure a force using Newtons 2. NEWTON: a standard unit of force depicted as an N

3 N 3 N

3 N 1 N