All IEB SAGS Physics Definitions
Vector - ANSWERA physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Scalar - ANSWERA physical quantity that has magnitude only.
Resultant Vector - ANSWERThe single vector which has the same effect as the original
vectors acting together.
Distance - ANSWERThe length of path traveled. It is a scalar quantity.
Displacement - ANSWERA change in position. It is a vector quantity.
Speed - ANSWERThe rate of change of distance. It is a scalar quantity.
Velocity - ANSWERThe rate of change of position OR The rate of displacement. It is a
vector quantity.
Acceleration - ANSWERThe rate of change of velocity.
Weight [Fg] - ANSWERThe gravitational force the Earth exerts on any object on or near
its surface.
Normal Force [FN] - ANSWERThe perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an
object in contact with it.
Frictional Force [Ff] - ANSWERThe force that opposes the motion of an object and acts
parallel to the surface with which the object is in contact.
Newton's First Law - ANSWERAn object continues in a state of rest or uniform (moving
with constant) velocity unless it is acted upon by a net or resultant force.
Inertia - ANSWERThe property of an object that causes it to resist a change in its state
of rest or uniform motion.
Newton's Second Law - ANSWERWhen a net force, Fnet, is applied to an object of
mass, m, it accelerates in the direction of the net force. The acceleration, a, is directly
proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass.
Newton's Third Law - ANSWERWhen object A exerts a force on object B, object B
simultaneously exerts an oppositely directed force of equal magnitude on object A.
Momentum - ANSWERThe product of the mass and velocity of the object.. It is a vector.
Newton's Second Law in terms of Momentum - ANSWERThe net force acting on an
object is equal to the rate of change of momentum.
Vector - ANSWERA physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Scalar - ANSWERA physical quantity that has magnitude only.
Resultant Vector - ANSWERThe single vector which has the same effect as the original
vectors acting together.
Distance - ANSWERThe length of path traveled. It is a scalar quantity.
Displacement - ANSWERA change in position. It is a vector quantity.
Speed - ANSWERThe rate of change of distance. It is a scalar quantity.
Velocity - ANSWERThe rate of change of position OR The rate of displacement. It is a
vector quantity.
Acceleration - ANSWERThe rate of change of velocity.
Weight [Fg] - ANSWERThe gravitational force the Earth exerts on any object on or near
its surface.
Normal Force [FN] - ANSWERThe perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an
object in contact with it.
Frictional Force [Ff] - ANSWERThe force that opposes the motion of an object and acts
parallel to the surface with which the object is in contact.
Newton's First Law - ANSWERAn object continues in a state of rest or uniform (moving
with constant) velocity unless it is acted upon by a net or resultant force.
Inertia - ANSWERThe property of an object that causes it to resist a change in its state
of rest or uniform motion.
Newton's Second Law - ANSWERWhen a net force, Fnet, is applied to an object of
mass, m, it accelerates in the direction of the net force. The acceleration, a, is directly
proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass.
Newton's Third Law - ANSWERWhen object A exerts a force on object B, object B
simultaneously exerts an oppositely directed force of equal magnitude on object A.
Momentum - ANSWERThe product of the mass and velocity of the object.. It is a vector.
Newton's Second Law in terms of Momentum - ANSWERThe net force acting on an
object is equal to the rate of change of momentum.
