Velocity as a Vector Quantity
Velocity is a vector quantity that refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position." Imagine a person moving rapidly - one step forward and one step back - always returning…
Speed and Velocity
Just as distance and displacement have distinctly different meanings (despite their similarities), so do speed and velocity. Speed is a scalar quantity that refers to "how fast an object is moving." Speed can be…
Distance and Displacement
Distance and displacement are two quantities that may seem to mean the same thing yet have distinctly different definitions and meanings. · Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to "how much ground an…
Scalars and Vectors
Physics is a mathematical science. The underlying concepts and principles have a mathematical basis. Throughout the course of our study of physics, we will encounter a variety of concepts that…
Kinematics
Describing Motion with Words Introduction to the Language of Kinematics IntroductionScalars and VectorsDistance and DisplacementSpeed and VelocityAcceleration A typical physics course concerns itself with a variety of broad topics. One…
Blackbody Radiation
A blackbody refers to an opaque object that emits thermal radiation. A perfect blackbody is one that absorbs all incoming light and does not reflect any. At room temperature, such an object would…
Newton’s Law of Cooling
Newton's Law of Cooling states that the rate of change of the temperature of an object is proportional to the difference between its own temperature and the ambient temperature (i.e.…
Thermal conductivity
A measure of the ability of a material to allow the flow of heat from its warmer surface through the material to itscolder surface, determined as the heat energy transferred per unit of time and per unit of surface area divided by thetemperature gradient, which is the temperature difference divided by the distance between the two surfaces (thethickness of the material), expressed in watts per kelvin per meter
Modes of Heat Transfer – Conduction, Convection & Radiation
Heat is a form of energy which transfers between bodies which are kept under thermal interactions. When a temperature difference occurs between two bodies or a body with its surroundings, heat…
Stress Strain Curve Explanation
Stress strain curve is a behavior of material when it is subjected to load. In this diagram stresses are plotted along the vertical axis and as a result of these stresses, corresponding…
