Nuclear Chemistry

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Frame of Reference Noun

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[freym uhv ref-er-uhns]

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Frame of Reference

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A system of objects that are not moving with respect to one another, used to describe motion accurately.

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Example: An observer's motion affects how they see other objects move. To person C, the cart is moving, but to someone on the cart, points A and B are still.

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Relative Motion Noun

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[rel-uh-tiv moh-shuhn]

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Relative Motion

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The movement of an object as observed from a particular, specified frame of reference.

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Example: The velocity of a person on a moving train cart depends on the observer's frame of reference, illustrating the concept of relative motion.

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Distance Noun

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[dis-tuhns]

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Distance

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The total length of the path an object travels between two points, regardless of direction.

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Example: This diagram shows the measured distances of a running track's straight and curved sections, illustrating the concept of length in a macroscopic, everyday setting.

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Displacement Noun

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[dis-pleys-muhnt]

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Displacement

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The change in an object's position, defined by the straight-line distance and direction from the start to end point.

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Example: This image shows the difference between distance traveled (the 4m + 3m path) and displacement (the 5m direct path from start to finish).

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Vector Noun

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[vek-ter]

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Vector

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A physical quantity that possesses both magnitude, which is its size or strength, and a specific direction.

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Example: A vector is a quantity that has both a magnitude (size or length) and a direction, shown as an arrow pointing from a tail to a head.

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Resultant Vector Noun

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[ri-zuhl-tnt vek-ter]

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Resultant Vector

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The single vector that represents the sum or combined effect of two or more individual vectors.

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Example: This diagram shows that when two vectors (A and B) are added head-to-tail, the resulting vector (C) represents their combined effect.

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Speed Noun

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[speed]

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Speed

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The rate at which an object covers distance, calculated as the ratio of distance to time.

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Example: The image shows the formula for speed (S=D/T) and a mnemonic triangle, using a car as a familiar example of a moving object.

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Average Speed Noun

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[av-er-ij speed]

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Average Speed

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The total distance an object travels divided by the total time it takes to travel that distance.

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Example: This image explains average speed using the distance/time formula and a worked example of a dolphin, but it is unrelated to the topic of nuclear chemistry.

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Instantaneous Speed Noun

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[in-stuhn-tey-nee-uhs speed]

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Instantaneous Speed

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The speed of an object measured at a particular and specific moment in time.

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Example: This image uses a courtroom analogy, where asking about an action at a specific time (3 p.m.) is like asking for an object's instantaneous speed.

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Velocity Noun

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[vuh-los-i-tee]

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Velocity

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A vector quantity that describes an object's speed as well as its specific direction of motion.

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Example: This image shows that velocity is not just speed, but also includes a specific direction, illustrated by the straight path from Point A to Point B.