Download Physics Vocabulary

Physics
Vocabulary
force
a
push or pull
that causes an
object to
move, stop, or
change
direction
friction
a
force that
slows or stops
motion when
two surfaces
rub against
each other
magnetism
 the
attraction
of an object
containing
iron to a
magnet
gravitation
 the
force that
pulls all
objects in the
universe
toward one
another
balanced forces
 forces
acting
on an object
that are equal
in size and
opposite in
direction,
canceling
each other out
unbalanced forces

forces that are
not equal; when
one force is
greater than its
opposite force,
the object’s
motion changes
energy
the
ability to
cause change in
position or
temperature
electric current
the
constant flow
of electrons from
through a
conductor
conductor
a
material that
conducts
electricity easily
electric circuit
the
path along
which electricity
can flow
insulator
a
material that
does not carry
electricity
resistor
a
material that
resists the flow
of electricity in
some way
electromagnet
a
temporary
magnet made by
passing electric
current through a
wire coiled around
an iron bar
reflection
the
light energy
that bounces off
objects
refraction
the
bending of
light rays when
they pass
through a
substance
lens
a
piece of clear
material that
bends, or refracts,
light rays passing
through it
temperature
the
average
kinetic energy of
all the molecules
in an object
Heat energy
the
energy of
moving particles
in a substance
hydroelectric energy
electricity
generated from
the force of
moving water
tidal energy
a
form of
hydroelectric
energy that
produces
electricity from
the rising and
falling of tides
nuclear energy
the
energy
released when the
nucleus of an
atom is split apart
geothermal energy
heat
from inside
the Earth
solar energy
the
energy of
sunlight