BASIC TERMINOLOGY

 

Particle

Something so small compared to other objects that it can be represented by a single point

 

Lamina

An extremely thin flat object  a bit like a piece of paper

 

Uniform

Having the same thickness / cross-section throughout

 

Rigid Body

An object that cannot be distorted (bent, twisted, stretched etc)

 

Rod

An object having length but no thickness so that it can be represented by a single line

 

Light Object

Is so light that its mass may be said to be zero

 

Inextensible / Inelastic

Cannot be stretched

 

Smooth

Has no friction

 

Rough

Has friction

 

Plane surface

Completely flat