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Glossary

Term Definition
Acceleration Rate of change of velocity.
Angular Momentum Rotational analog of momentum, \(L = I\omega\).
Bernoulli’s Principle In steady inviscid flow, higher speed means lower pressure.
Buoyancy Upward force on a submerged object equal to weight of displaced fluid.
Center of Mass Mass-weighted average position.
Drag Force opposing motion through a fluid, \(F_D \sim v^2\).
Entropy Measure of unavailable energy / microscopic disorder.
Equilibrium \(\sum F = 0\) and \(\sum \tau = 0\).
Ideal Gas Point particles with elastic collisions, obeying \(PV=nRT\).
Impulse Time-integrated force, equal to momentum change.
Kinetic Energy \(K = \tfrac12 m v^2\).
Momentum \(\vec{p} = m\vec{v}\).
Newton’s Laws Three laws describing force and motion.
Oscillation Periodic motion about an equilibrium position.
Potential Energy Stored energy from conservative force or configuration.
Pressure Normal force per unit area.
Projectile Motion 2D motion under gravity.
Rms Speed Root-mean-square molecular speed.
Rotation Motion about an axis described by angular variables.
Standing Wave Wave formed from two counter-propagating waves.
Temperature Measure of average thermal kinetic energy.
Thermodynamics Study of heat, work, and energy.
Torque \(\vec{\tau} = \vec{r} \times \vec{F}\).
Vector Quantity with magnitude and direction.
Wave Traveling disturbance transporting energy without mass transport.
Work \(W = \int \vec{F} \cdot d\vec{x}\).