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SHHS - Science - Physics GCSE 2018on > 05. Physics Key Terms (Physics) > Flashcards

05. Physics Key Terms (Physics) Flashcards

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1
Q

Acceleration

A

What is defined by “The rate of change of velocity or the change of velocity per second” (in metres per second per second, m/s2).

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2
Q

The number of unstable atoms that decay per second in a radioactive source.

A

What is meant by the activity of a radioactive sample?

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3
Q

Alpha radiation

A

The type of radiation which is composed of two protons and two neutrons, emitted by unstable nuclei?

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4
Q

Alternating current

A

The type of electrical current in a circuit that repeatedly changes its direction?

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5
Q

Alternator

A

Name given to a generator which produces an alternating current?

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6
Q

Amplitude

A

In a transverse wave, the maximum height of a wave crest or trough from the rest position is called?

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7
Q

Angle of incidence

A

Angle between the incident ray and the normal is called?

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8
Q

Angle of reflection

A

Angle between the reflected ray and the normal is called?

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9
Q

Atomic number

A

The number of protons (which equals the number of electrons) in an atom. It is sometimes called the proton number or it is called?

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10
Q

Beta radiation

A

Name of the emitted radiation which is composed of high energy electrons created in and emitted from, unstable nuclei?

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11
Q

Big Bang theory

A

The name if the theory that the universe was created in a massive explosion from a single point, and that the universe has been expanding ever since?

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12
Q

Biofuel

A

Name given to any fuel taken from living or recently living materials, such as animal waste?

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13
Q

Black body radiation

A

The name of the radiation emitted by a perfect black body?

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14
Q

Black dwarf

A

Name of a small star that has faded out and gone cold at the end of its lifetime?

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15
Q

Black hole

A

Name of an object in space that has so much mass that nothing, not even light, can escape from its gravitational field. Formed at the end of the death of a very large star?

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16
Q

Boiling point

A

The temperature at which a pure substance boils or condenses?

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17
Q

Boyle’s Law

A

The law which describes that, for a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, its pressure multiplied by its volume is constant? (pV = constant)

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18
Q

Braking distance

A

The distance travelled by a vehicle during the time it takes for its brakes to act?

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19
Q

Carbon neutral

A

A biofuel from a living organism that takes in as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as is released when the fuel is burned?

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20
Q

Centripetal force

A

The resultant force towards the centre of a circle acting on an object moving in a circular path?

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21
Q

Chain reaction

A

Name of reactions in which one reaction causes further reactions, which in turn cause further reactions, etc.?

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22
Q

Compression

A

Name given to the area which describe the particles close together while a longitudinal wave passes through it?

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23
Q

Concave (diverging) lens

A

A lens that makes parallel rays diverge (spread out)?

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24
Q

Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

A

Describe what is meant by the conservation of energy.

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25
Q

In a closed system, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event, provided no external forces act on the objects during the interaction.

A

Describe what is meant by the conservation of momentum.

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26
Q

Convex (converging) lens

A

A lens that makes light rays parallel to the principal axis converge (meet) at a point?

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27
Q

Cosmic microwave background radiation

A

Name of the electromagnetic radiation that was created during and provides evidence to support the Big Bang?

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28
Q

Geiger counter (geiger-muller tube)

A

Device which is used to measure the count rate of a sample?

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29
Q

Dark matter

A

Name of the matter in a galaxy that cannot be seen? Astronomers think that stars only account for small amount of the mass of the galaxies, the rest is made of this unseen mass.

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30
Q

Deceleration

A

Defined as the rate of change of the velocity of an object slowing down?

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31
Q

Density

A

What term is defined as its mass per unit volume of a substance?

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32
Q

Diffuse reflection

A

Name given to reflection from a rough surface (the light rays are scattered in different directions)?

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33
Q

Diode

A

Name of a non-ohmic conductor that only allows current to flow in one direction once a PD over 0.6V is applied? It has a much higher resistance in its reverse direction than its forward direction.

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34
Q

Direct current

A

Name of a supply where the electric current in a circuit is only in one direction?

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35
Q

The line of best fit is a straight diagonal line through the origin.

A

If two variables are directly proportional to each other, how can you tell from the graph?

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36
Q

Displacement

A

Vector name given to the distance travelled in a given direction?

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37
Q

Driving force or engine force

A

Name of the force of a vehicle that makes it move (sometimes referred to as motive force)?

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38
Q

Dynamo

A

Name of a generator which produces a direct current?

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39
Q

Earth wire

A

The wire in a mains cable used to connect the metal case of an appliance back to the socket incase of a fault?

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40
Q

Echo

A

Name given to the reflection of sound that can be heard?

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41
Q

Efficiency

A

Name given to the ratio of the useful energy transferred by a device ÷ total energy supplied to the device?

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42
Q

Elastic behaviour

A

Name given to the type of behaviour demonstrated by an object which is able to regain its shape after it has been squashed or stretched and the force is removed?

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43
Q

Electric field

A

The name of the field created around a charged object? Which causes a non-contact force on any other charged object with in the field.

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44
Q

Electromagnet

A

The name of the device which consists of an insulated wire wrapped round an iron bar that becomes magnetic when there is a current in the wire?

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45
Q

Electromagnetic induction

A

The name of the process of inducing a potential difference in a wire by moving the wire so it cuts across the lines of force of a magnetic field?

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46
Q

Electromagnetic spectrum

A

The continuous spectrum of waves, with similar properties but ranging wavelengths and frequencies is called?

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47
Q

Electrons

A

Name of the negatively charged particles that move around the nucleus of an atom?

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48
Q

Uncertainty

A

The name of the term beginning with “U”, given to the interval within which the true value can be expected to lie with in a measurement taken, eg “the temperature is 20 °C ± 2°C”?

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49
Q

Extension

A

The increase in length of a spring (or a strip of material) from its original length when a force is applied is called?

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50
Q

Fleming’s left hand rule

A

The name of a rule that gives the direction of the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field according to the directions of the current and the field?

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51
Q

Focal length

A

The distance from the centre of a lens to the point where light rays parallel to the principal axis are focused is called?(or, in the case of a diverging lens, appear to diverge from).

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52
Q

Force

A

A term which is measured in Newtons?

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53
Q

Force multiplier

A

Name given to an example of a lever used so that a small force can be used to increase the force applied to the object (i.e. a bottle opener)?

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54
Q

Free body force diagram

A

Name of the diagram that shows all the forces acting on an object (without any other objects or forces shown)?

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55
Q

Freezing point

A

The temperature at which a pure substance turns from a liquid to a solid?

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56
Q

Frequency

A

The number of wave cycles passing a fixed point every second is called?

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57
Q

Hertz, Hz.

A

The units used to measure frequency in? and the shorthand way to write this?

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58
Q

Frequency

A

Name of the term which the time period of a wave can be used to calculate?

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59
Q

Friction

A

The name of the contact force opposing the relative motion of two objects in contact with each other?

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60
Q

Fuse

A

The name of the component consisting of a thin wire that melts if too much current passes through it?

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61
Q

Gamma radiation

A

Name of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from unstable nuclei in radioactive substances?

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62
Q

Generator effect

A

The name of the effect of the production of a potential difference across the ends of a wire by passing it through a magnetic field?

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63
Q

Geothermal

A

Name of the energy resource where the Electrical energy comes from using the energy released by radioactive substances deep within the Earth?

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64
Q

Half-life

A

Name given to the average time taken for the number of radioactive nuclei present in an isotope to decay to halve its previous value?

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65
Q

Hooke’s law

A

The name of the law which states “The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied, as long as its limit of proportionality is not exceeded”?

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66
Q

Induced magnetism

A

Name given to process where an unmagnetised magnetic material becomes magnetic itself when placed in a magnetic field?

67
Q

Inertia

A

The tendency of an object to stay at rest, or to continue in uniform motion is called?

68
Q

Infrared radiation

A

Name of the electromagnetic waves between visible light and microwaves in the electromagnetic spectrum? Given out by all objects which sit above absolute zero.

69
Q

Internal energy

A

The name of the energy of the particles of a substance, due to their individual motion and positions

70
Q

Looking at the data and graph, as one variable becomes “n” times bigger, the other variable becomes “n” times smaller (i.e. if one doubles, the other halves)

A

If two variables are inversely proportional, how can you tell from the data?

71
Q

Ion

A

The name of an atom which has lost an electron to become charged?

72
Q

Ionisation

A

The name given to the process where an atom loses an electron to become charged?

73
Q

The object has been exposed to ionising radiation.

A

What is meant by an object has been “irradiated”?

74
Q

Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus.

A

Define what is meant by the term “isotope”?

75
Q

Latent heat

A

The name given to energy transferred to or from a substance when it changes its state?

76
Q

Light-depending resistor (LDR)

A

Name of a resistor whose resistance depends on the intensity of the light incident on it?

77
Q

Light-emitting diode (LED)

A

A device which emits light when a current flows through it in the forward direction?

78
Q

Limit of proportionality

A

The name given to the point on a force-extension graph where Hooke’s law no longer applies past this point, during the extension of a stretched spring?

79
Q

Live wire

A

The name of the mains wire which has a voltage that alternates in size and direction (between +325 V and 325 V in Europe)?

80
Q

Longitudinal waves

A

The type of waves in which the vibrations(oscillations) are parallel to the direction of energy transfer?

81
Q

Magnetic field

A

The type of field found around a current-carrying wire?

82
Q

Magnetic flux density

A

Name given to the term which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field?

83
Q

The image height ÷ the object height.

A

How you would calculate the magnification of a lens using the both the object and image sizes?

84
Q

Converging lens

A

The type of lens used to magnify a small object (object must be placed between the lens and its focal point)?

85
Q

Main sequence

A

The name given to the stable period of a star during which it radiates energy because of fusion of hydrogen nuclei in its core?

86
Q

Mass

A

The name given to the quantity of matter in an object? (measured in kilograms, kg)

87
Q

The number of protons and neutrons

A

The mass number of the nucleus tells us?

88
Q

Mechanical wave

A

Name given to the group of waves which require a substance to be present to travel through it?

89
Q

Melting point

A

The temperature at which a pure substance changes from solid to liquid during heating or solidifies during cooling?

90
Q

Microwaves

A

Electromagnetic waves between infrared radiation and radio waves in the electromagnetic spectrum?

91
Q

Moderator

A

Name of the substance in a nuclear reactor that slows down fission neutrons so further nuclear fission can take place?

92
Q

Moment

A

The turning effect of a force defined by the equation: force (in newtons, N) × perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the force (in metres, m).

93
Q

Momentum

A

The name given to the term equal to the mass × velocity of a moving object?

94
Q

Motor effect

A

When a current is passed along a wire in a magnetic field the wire can experience a force. What is the name of this effect called?

95
Q

National Grid

A

The name given to the network of cables and transformers used to transfer electricity from power stations to consumers (i.e., homes, shops, offices, factories, etc.)?

96
Q

Neutral wire

A

The name of the wire of a mains circuit that is involved in the transfer of electrical current to and back from a device, however the pd of this wire remains close to 0V?

97
Q

Neutron star

A

The name of the highly compressed core of a massive star that remains after a supernova explosion?

98
Q

Neutrons

A

Uncharged particles of the same mass as protons?

99
Q

If the resultant force on an object is zero, the object either remains at rest, or it keeps moving with a constant speed (in the same direction).

A

State Newton’s first law of motion?

100
Q

The acceleration of an object is proportional to the resultant force on an object. (and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.)

A

State Newton’s second law of motion?

101
Q

When two objects interact with each other, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other.

A

State Newton’s third law of motion?

102
Q

Normal

A

Name of the straight line perpendicular to the surface or boundary, from which angles of incidence etc are measured from?

103
Q

Nuclear fission

A

The name of the process in which certain nuclei (uranium-235 and plutonium-239) split into two fragments, releasing energy and two or three neutrons as a result?

104
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

The name of the process where small nuclei are forced together to fuse and form a larger nucleus?

105
Q

Nucleus

A

Name of the positively charged centre of every atom?

106
Q

The current through a resistor (at constant temperature) is directly proportional to the pd across the resistor.

A

State what is meant by a resistor obeying Ohm’s law?

107
Q

Opaque object

A

Name given to a surface/object which light cannot pass through?

108
Q

Optical fibre

A

Name given to a thin glass fibre which is used to transmit light signals?

109
Q

Oscilloscope

A

A device used to display the shape of an electrical wave? Useful alongside microphones to analyse sound signals etc.

110
Q

Parallelogram of forces

A

Name given to a geometrical method used to find the resultant of two forces that do not act along the same line?

111
Q

Potential difference

A

The name given to a measure of the energy transferred to a device by each coulomb of charge that passes through it?

112
Q

Power

A

The name given to a measure of the energy transferred per second?

113
Q

Pressure

A

Name of term defined as the “Force per meter squared” acting on a surface? Measured in pascal (Pa).

114
Q

Primary wave (P-wave)

A

Type of seismic waves which are longitudinal waves?

115
Q

For an object in equilibrium, the sum of all the clockwise moments about any point = the sum of all the anti-clockwise moments about that point.

A

State what is meant by the principle of moments?

116
Q

Protons

A

Positively charged particles with an equal and opposite charge to that of an electron?

117
Q

Protostar

A

The name given to a concentration of dust clouds and gas in space that forms a star?

118
Q

Radiation dose

A

The name given to the amount of ionising radiation a person receives/absorbs?

119
Q

Radio waves

A

Electromagnetic waves of wavelengths greater than 0.10 m?

120
Q

(Radioactive) Contamination

A

The name given to the unwanted presence of materials containing radioactive atoms on other materials?

121
Q

Rarefaction

A

Name given to the area in a longitudinal wave which cause the particles to be spread out?

122
Q

Reactor core

A

Name of the thick steel vessel which contain fuel rods, control rods and the moderator in a nuclear fission reactor?

123
Q

Real image

A

Name given to an image formed by a lens that can be projected on a screen?

124
Q

Red giant

A

Name of the stage of a small star that has expanded and cooled, once the hydrogen begins to run out at the end of its stable period?

125
Q

Red supergiant

A

Name of the stage of a large star that has expanded, once the hydrogen begins to run out at the end of its stable period?

126
Q

Redshift

A

Name given to the increase in the wavelength of electromagnetic waves emitted by a star or galaxy due to its motion away from us?

127
Q

Refraction

A

The change of direction of a light ray when it passes across a boundary between two transparent substances (including air)?

128
Q

Renewable energy

A

Name of the energy source from natural sources that is always being replenished so it never runs out?

129
Q

Resistance

A

Term which can be calculated from the equation - potential difference (in volts, V) ÷ current (in amperes, A)?

130
Q

Resultant force

A

Name given to the single force which can be used to represent the sum of all the forces acting on an object?

131
Q

Scalar

A

The general name given to a physical quantity, such as mass or energy, that has magnitude only?

132
Q

Secondary waves (S-waves)

A

Type of seismic waves which are transverse waves?

133
Q

Seismic waves

A

Shock waves that travel through the Earth and across its surface from the epicentre of an earthquake

134
Q

Series

A

Name of a type of circuit which has its components connected in such a way that the same current passes through each of them?

135
Q

Solenoid

A

The name of a long coil of wire that produces a magnetic field both inside and around the outside of a coil when there is a current in the coil?

136
Q

Specific heat capacity

A

Defined as the “Energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C”?

137
Q

Specific latent heat of fusion

A

Defined as the “Energy needed to melt 1 kg of a substance with no change of temperature”?

138
Q

Specific latent heat of vaporisation

A

Defined as the “Energy needed to boil away 1 kg of a substance with no change of temperature”?

139
Q

Specular reflection

A

S__________ reflection - the name given to reflection from a smooth surface? Each light ray is reflected in a single direction.

140
Q

Speed

A

Term calculated using - distance moved by the object ÷ time taken to move the distance travelled.

141
Q

Spring constant

A

Term represented by “k”, which indicates the force required to extend a material per metre?

142
Q

Step-down transformer

A

Electrical device that is used to decrease the size of an alternating potential difference?

143
Q

Step-up transformer

A

Electrical device used to increase the size of an alternating potential difference?

144
Q

Stopping distance

A

The name given to the total distance travelled by the vehicle in the time it takes for the driver to react and brake?

145
Q

Supernova

A

The explosion of a massive star after fusion in its core ceases and the matter surrounding its core collapses on to the core and rebounds?

146
Q

Tangent

A

Name given to a straight line drawn so it touches a point on a curve at one point (it has the same gradient as the curve at that point)?

147
Q

Terminal velocity

A

The name given to the velocity reached by an object when the drag force on it is equal and opposite to the force making it move?

148
Q

Thermal conductivity

A

A property of a material that determines the rate of energy transfer through it by conduction?

149
Q

Thermistor

A

Name of a resistor whose resistance depends on the temperature of its surroundings?

150
Q

Thinking distance

A

The name given to the distance travelled by a vehicle in the time it takes the driver to react?

151
Q

Live, Neutral an Earth

A

What is the name of the three-pins present in a three-pin plug?

152
Q

Transformer

A

Name of the electrical device used to change the size of an (alternating) voltage?

153
Q

It could be absorbed, relected or transmitted.

A

When a beam of light is used to illuminate an object, what three possible things can happen to the beam of light on striking the surface?

154
Q

Transparent object

A

Name given to an object that transmits all of the incident light that enters the object?

155
Q

Transverse wave

A

The type of wave where the particle vibration is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer?

156
Q

Ultrasound wave

A

Sound wave at frequency greater than 20 000 Hz (the upper frequency limit of the human ear)?

157
Q

Ultraviolet radiation

A

Electromagnetic waves found with a wavelength between visible light and X-rays in the electromagnetic spectrum?

158
Q

Vector

A

The general name of a physical quantity, such as displacement or velocity, that has both a magnitude and a direction?

159
Q

Velocity

A

Name of the speed of an object in a given direction?

160
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance from one wave crest to the next?

161
Q

Weight

A

The force exerted by an object due to gravity acting on it?

162
Q

White dwarf

A

Name given to the stage of a star that has collapsed from the red giant stage to become much smaller, hotter and denser state?

163
Q

Work done

A

Term calculated using the equation - force × distance moved?

164
Q

X-rays and gamma rays

A

Electromagnetic waves smaller in wavelength than ultraviolet radiation?

SHHS - Science - Physics GCSE 2018on (16 decks)

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