Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
College Physics for AP® Courses

Glossary

College Physics for AP® CoursesGlossary

accuracy
the degree to which a measured value agrees with correct value for that measurement
approximation
an estimated value based on prior experience and reasoning
classical physics
physics that was developed from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century
conversion factor
a ratio expressing how many of one unit are equal to another unit
derived units
units that can be calculated using algebraic combinations of the fundamental units
English units
system of measurement used in the United States; includes units of measurement such as feet, gallons, and pounds
fundamental units
units that can only be expressed relative to the procedure used to measure them
kilogram
the SI unit for mass, abbreviated (kg)
law
a description, using concise language or a mathematical formula, a generalized pattern in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments
meter
the SI unit for length, abbreviated (m)
method of adding percents
the percent uncertainty in a quantity calculated by multiplication or division is the sum of the percent uncertainties in the items used to make the calculation
metric system
a system in which values can be calculated in factors of 10
model
representation of something that is often too difficult (or impossible) to display directly
modern physics
the study of relativity, quantum mechanics, or both
order of magnitude
refers to the size of a quantity as it relates to a power of 10
percent uncertainty
the ratio of the uncertainty of a measurement to the measured value, expressed as a percentage
physical quantity
a characteristic or property of an object that can be measured or calculated from other measurements
physics
the science concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time; it is especially interested in what fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon
precision
the degree to which repeated measurements agree with each other
quantum mechanics
the study of objects smaller than can be seen with a microscope
relativity
the study of objects moving at speeds greater than about 1% of the speed of light, or of objects being affected by a strong gravitational field
scientific method
a method that typically begins with an observation and question that the scientist will research; next, the scientist typically performs some research about the topic and then devises a hypothesis; then, the scientist will test the hypothesis by performing an experiment; finally, the scientist analyzes the results of the experiment and draws a conclusion
second
the SI unit for time, abbreviated (s)
SI units
the international system of units that scientists in most countries have agreed to use; includes units such as meters, liters, and grams
significant figures
express the precision of a measuring tool used to measure a value
theory
an explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of researchers
uncertainty
a quantitative measure of how much your measured values deviate from a standard or expected value
units
a standard used for expressing and comparing measurements
Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-ap-courses/pages/1-connection-for-ap-r-courses
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-ap-courses/pages/1-connection-for-ap-r-courses
Citation information

© Mar 3, 2022 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.