EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
hypothesis
velocity
gravitational force exerted on an object
weight
resistance of an object to a change in its motion
inertia
acceleration of an object toward the center of a curved or circular path
centripetal acceleration
factor that, as it changes, affects the measure of another variable
independent variable
distance and direction of an object's change in position from the starting point
displacement
a push or pull on an object
force
states that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a force on the first object that is equal in strength and in the opposite direction
Newton's 3rd Law
distance an object travels per unit time
speed
occurs when a scientist's expectations change how the results of an experiment are viewed
bias
total distance an object travels divided by the total time it takes to travel that distance
average speed
attractive force between two objects that depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them
gravity
forces on an object that combine to give a zero net force and do not change the motion of the object
balanced force
momentum
can be used to represent an idea, object, or event that is too big, too small, too complex, or too dangerous to observe or test directly
model
rate of change of velocity; can be calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time it takes the change to occur
acceleration
a net force that is directed toward the center of a curved or circular path
centripetal force
states that the acceleration of an object is in the same direction as the net force on the object, and that the acceleration equals the net force divided by the mass
Newton's 2nd Law
energy a moving object has because of its motion; depends on the mass and speed of an object
kinetic energy
statement about what happens in nature that seems to be true all the time; does not explain why or how something happens
scientific law
speed of an object at a given point in time; is constant for an object moving with constant speed, and changes with time for an object that is slowing down or speeding up
instantaneous speed
force that opposes the sliding motion between two touching surfaces.
friction
force that opposes the motion of objects that move through the air
air resistance
energy stored in chemical bonds
chemical potential energy