Foundations of Physics — 63 Terms Defined

Scientific Method Foundations of Physics N/A An empirical, iterative process for investigating natural phenomena through observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and analysis.

Scientific Notation Foundations of Physics Dimensionless A standardized method of expressing very large or very small numbers in the format a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10 and n is an integer. a × 10^n

Scientific Theory Foundations of Physics N/A A comprehensive, well-substantiated explanation of a broad aspect of nature supported by extensive empirical evidence and repeated testing.

SI Units Foundations of Physics Dimensionless The International System of Units (SI), the modern metric system used globally as the standard language of science and measurement.

Significant Figures Foundations of Physics Dimensionless The digits in a measured or calculated quantity that carry meaningful contribution to its measurement precision.

Speed of Light Foundations of Physics m/s The maximum speed at which all massless particles, electromagnetic waves, and information travel through a vacuum. c = 299,792,458 m/s

Systematic Error Foundations of Physics Various A consistent, repeatable error in experimental measurements that skews data in the same direction from the true value. Offset = Mean Measured - True Value

Time Foundations of Physics s A fundamental physical quantity used to sequence events, quantify durations, and measure rates of change in the universe. Δt = t2 - t1

Unit Vector Foundations of Physics Dimensionless A dimensionless vector with a magnitude of exactly one, used exclusively to specify a direction in space. û = u / |u|

Vector Foundations of Physics Various A physical quantity characterized by both a magnitude and a spatial direction. A = Ax i + Ay j + Az k

Vector Components Foundations of Physics Various The scalar projections of a vector along the mutually perpendicular axes of a coordinate system. Ax = A cos θ, Ay = A sin θ

Vector Product Foundations of Physics Various A vector operation multiplying two 3D vectors to yield a vector perpendicular to both, with magnitude equal to the area of the parallelogram they span. A × B = |A||B| sin θ n_hat

Vernier Caliper Foundations of Physics mm A precision measuring instrument utilizing a main scale and a sliding Vernier scale to measure linear dimensions with fine precision. Reading = Main Scale + (Vernier Coincidence × Least Count)

Weight Foundations of Physics N The downward gravitational force exerted on an object's mass by a surrounding gravitational field. W = m g

Zero Error Foundations of Physics Various A systematic error that occurs when a measuring instrument displays a non-zero reading when the actual quantity being measured is zero. True Value = Observed Value - Zero Error