Science
The use of evidence to construct explanations and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as the knowledge generated through this process
Scientific Methods
A systematic approach used in scientific study, an organized process used by scientists to do research and to verify others
Hypothesis
A tentative, testable statement or prediction about what is and has been observed
Ethics
A set of principles and values that can be used to make and guide decision-making behavior
Inference
A logical conclusion that combines prior knowledge with what you have learned and observed
Scientific Theory
A highly reliable, well-established explanation of a natural or physical phenomenon
Scientific Law
Describes a relationship in nature that is supported by many experiments
Position
The place an object is at. Sometimes you will hear ‘position vector’, which refers to a
vector for determining position, not a precise position
Scalar
A quantity that has size but not direction. In physics, it’s often referred to as a magnitude
Δ
This symbol tells us the ‘change in’ something. Note that since it is measuring change,
derivatives from calculus become an excellent tool to analyze this. Also note that the functions that will follow bear a striking similarity to the difference quotient from Algebra 2 courses
Displacement
The change in position of an object. From a mathematical point of view, this is
the magnitude, or absolute value, of a directional vector. Thus, displacement has direction and a
magnitude associated with it
Displacement Formula
Δx=x1-x0
TIme
This is defined as the interval over which change occurs. Time is a bit problematic in that it is a meaningless concept without change occurring. Philosophically, we may talk about moments, or actions, or instants, but in the eye of physics, these terms have no value outside of change
Time Change Formula
Δt=t1-t0
Velocity
This is largely our intuitive notion of displacement over time, which yields our average velocity
Velocity Formula
_
V= Δx
t
Speed
Colloquially, speed and velocity are the same thing, but in physics, cs the definitions are more precise. In physics, speed is a scalar, or magnitude, and there is no direction associated with it
Acceleration
This is defined as the change in velocity over time
Acceleration Formula
_
a = Δv
Δt
