Physics Midterm Review

Front

What is mechanical energy?

Back

Mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in a system.

Front

What happens to mechanical energy in the presence of friction?

Back

Mechanical energy is not conserved in the presence of friction.

Front

In a vacuum, do objects fall at different speeds?

Back

No, in a vacuum, all objects fall at the same speed regardless of their mass.

Front

What is a scalar quantity?

Back

A scalar is defined as having a magnitude but no direction.

Front

What is a hypothesis?

Back

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be experimentally tested.

Front

What does Isaac Newton's second law of motion state?

Back

Isaac Newton's second law of motion states that F = ma, where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration.

Front

What is potential energy?

Back

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration.

Front

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion.

Front

What is the formula for gravitational potential energy?

Back

The formula for gravitational potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.

Front

What is the principle of conservation of energy?

Back

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.