1. Speed: Speed refers to how fast an object is moving, measured as the distance traveled per unit of time. For instance, if a car travels 60 miles in one hour, its speed is 60 miles per hour (mph).
2. Velocity: Velocity is similar to speed but includes direction. It's the rate at which an object changes its position in a particular direction. For example, a car traveling at 60 mph due north has a velocity of 60 mph north.
3. Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. It can mean an increase or decrease in speed or a change in direction. For example, A car speeding up or slowing down is experiencing acceleration.
4. Newton's Three Laws of Motion:
- First Law (Law of Inertia): An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. For instance, a ball on a flat surface won't move unless someone kicks it or some force acts upon it.
- Second Law (Law of Force and Acceleration): The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass. For example, pushing a heavier object requires more force to achieve the same acceleration as a lighter object.
- Third Law (Action and Reaction): For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you push against a wall, the wall pushes back against you with the same force you apply to it.
Example: Imagine two astronauts in space. One astronaut pushes
the other. According to Newton's third law, the astronaut who pushed
will move backward (action) due to the force applied, and the other
astronaut will move forward (reaction) with an equal force. This
demonstrates the law of action and reaction.
5. Reduced Mass: Reduced mass is a concept used in physics, particularly in systems with multiple bodies undergoing motion under the influence of gravitational or other forces. It's the effective mass seen by an external force in a two-body system. For instance, in the context of celestial bodies like planets orbiting around each other, the reduced mass takes into account both masses and their relative distance.
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