Physics and chemistry
20 Physics and Chemistry Terms with Meanings and Examples
Physics
- Force: A push or pull that can change an object’s motion.
- Example: Gravity is a force that pulls objects towards the Earth.
- Velocity: The speed and direction of an object’s motion.
- Example: The car’s velocity was 60 miles per hour north.
- Acceleration: The rate at which an object’s velocity changes.
- Example: The car accelerated quickly to reach highway speed.
- Momentum: The mass of an object times its velocity.
- Example: A heavy object moving at a high velocity has a large momentum.
- Energy: The ability to do work.
- Example: Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, while potential energy is stored energy.
- Matter: Anything that has mass and takes up space.
- Example: Atoms are the building blocks of matter.
- Atom: The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of a particular element.
- Example: Hydrogen is the simplest atom.
- Element: A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
- Example: Oxygen is an element.
- Compound: A substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined.
- Example: Water is a compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
- Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together.
- Example: A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Chemistry
- Atom: The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of a particular element.
- Example: Hydrogen is the simplest atom.
- Element: A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
- Example: Oxygen is an element.
- Compound: A substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined.
- Example: Water is a compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
- Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together.
- Example: A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
- Chemical Reaction: The process by which substances change into different substances.
- Example: Burning is a chemical reaction that combines oxygen with a fuel to produce heat and light.
- Acid: A substance that produces hydrogen ions in solution.
- Example: Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid.
- Base: A substance that produces hydroxide ions in solution.
- Example: Sodium hydroxide is a strong base.
- pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
- Example: A pH of 7 is neutral, while a pH below 7 is acidic and a pH above 7 is basic.
- Organic Chemistry: The study of carbon-containing compounds.
- Example: Plastics, carbohydrates, and proteins are examples of organic compounds.
- Inorganic Chemistry: The study of non-carbon-containing compounds.
- Example: Minerals and salts are examples of inorganic compounds.
