Unit 1: Mechanics Glossary

Acceleration: the act of accelerating; increase of speed or velocity

Average: a typical amount, rate, degree:

Constant: not changing or varying; uniform; regular; invariable

Direction: a line leading to a place or point

Displacement: is the shortest distance from the initial and final positions of a point

Distance: is a numerical description of how far apart objects are

Density: mass per unit volume. The symbol of density is ρ

Energy: scalar physical quantity that describes the amount of work that can be performed by
a force

Free fall: falling motion of something subject only to a gravitational field

Gravity: force of attraction between all masses in the universe

Magnitude: number assigned to the ratio of two quantities

Mass: the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

Power: rate at which work is performed or energy is converted

Resistance: action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with

Size: physical magnitude of something

Scalar: quantity that has  magnitude only

Speed: distance travelled per unit time

Time: measure of seconds, hours, minuets ect

Volume: A unit of three dimensional measure of space that comprises a length, a width and
a height

Velocity: distance travelled per unit time

Vector: quantity that has both magnitude and direction

Weight: the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity