Physics Vocabulary 5 th Grade Term 3
Energy energy- the ability to do work or cause change kinetic- the energy of motion potential- energy of position or condition mechanical- energy related to motion of an object or its potential to move thermal- energy in the moving particles of an object chemical- energy in the bonds between atoms electrical- energy of moving electrical charges electromagnetic- radiant or wave energy that can travel through empty space nuclear- energy in the nucleus of an atom conservation- law that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it only changes forms
Force force- a push or a pull (measured in newtons) friction- a force that opposes motion when two surfaces are in contact with each other magnetism- a force that attracts or repels objects with magnetic poles gravity- a force that pulls together objects with mass balanced forces- forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction which produce no change in motion acceleration- any change in the motion of an object, either speed or direction net force- the total result of all the forces acting on an object work- the result of applying force to move an object some distance (measured in joules) power- the rate at which work is done (measured in watts) engineering- the process of using science knowledge to design a product that solves a problem
Machines machine- a device that makes work easier by changing the amount of force, the direction of the force, or the distance over which the force is applied load- object to be moved or resistance effort- the force used to do work, lift a load lever-a bar that turns on a fixed point fulcrum (pivot)- the point around which a lever turns inclined plane (ramp)- a flat sloped surface wedge- an inclined plane that moves, used to separate objects screw- an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, creating threads pulley- a grooved wheel through which a rope runs wheel and axle- two different size round objects that rotate around an axis
Motion motion- change in position reference point- a defined position used to determine motion by comparison speed- change in distance over time (units: mph or m/s) velocity- speed with direction momentum- product of mass and velocity; the force needed to change the motion of an object inertia- tendency for an object to continue moving or stay at rest reaction- a force that is equal and opposite to the action scientific law- a statement that is used to explain why something happens in nature