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Year 12 and 13 Physics > AS level definitions > Flashcards

AS level definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

Define specific charge

A

The charge in coulombs divided by the mass in kilograms or charge to mass ratio.

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2
Q

Define an isotope

A

An atom with a nucleus with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.

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3
Q

Define the photo-electric effect

A

The emission of electrons from metal surfaces by incident light of an appropriate frequency.

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4
Q

Define the work function

A

The minimum energy required for an electron to escape from the surface of the metal.

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5
Q

Define the threshold frequency

A

The minimum frequency of a photon to produce photoelectrons.

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6
Q

Define “electron volt”

A

The energy given to an electron when it passes through a potential difference of 1 V.

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7
Q

Define the ionisation energy of an atom

A

The minimum energy required to remove an electron from an atom in its ground state.

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8
Q

Define the excitation energy

A

The energy required to move an electron from a lower energy level to a higher energy level.

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9
Q

Define “line spectra”

A

The characteristic wavelengths of light produced by individual excited atoms.

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10
Q

Define electric current

A

The number of coulombs of charge passing a point every second.

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11
Q

Define potential difference

A

The work done per unit charge in moving charges from one point in the circuit to another.

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12
Q

Define electrical resistance

A

The ratio of the potential difference across a component to the current through it.

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13
Q

Define an ohmic conductor or resistor

A

The ratio of potential difference to current remains constant.

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14
Q

What is Ohm’s Law?

A

The current through component is proportional to the potential difference across it.

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15
Q

Define the critical temperature

A

The temperature at or below which the resistivity of a superconductor becomes zero.

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16
Q

State Kirchoff’s first (current) law

A

The (vector) sum of currents into a junction equals zero.

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17
Q

State Kirchoff’s second (voltage) law

A

In any closed loop the sum of the EMF equals the sum of the potential difference.

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18
Q

Define EMF

A

The total energy supplied per coulomb given to charges as they pass through the battery or cell (before losing
energy to internal resistance).

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19
Q

Define internal resistance

A

The resistance inside a battery, cell or power supply.

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20
Q

Define useful volts

A

The potential difference across the terminals of the power supply.

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21
Q

Define lost volts

A

The potential difference across the internal resistance of the power supply.

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22
Q

Define a scalar quantity

A

A physical quantity which has magnitude only.

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23
Q

Define a vector quantity

A

A physical quantity which has magnitude and direction.

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24
Q

State when an object is in equilibrium

A

When the resultant force on it is zero and the resultant torque is zero.

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25
Q

Define a couple

A

Two equal and opposite forces separated by a distance D between the lines of action of the forces. (this produces rotational motion only).

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26
Q

Define torque / a moment

A

The force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the pivot point to the line of action of the force.

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27
Q

State the principle of moments

A

For an object in equilibrium the sum of the clockwise moments equals the sum of the anticlockwise moments. This applies about any point which is on or outside the object.

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28
Q

Define “centre of mass”

A

The point at which the whole mass of the object appears to act.

29
Q

Define displacement

A

The distance an object has moved in a particular direction.

30
Q

What is speed?

A

The distance travelled by an object divided by the time taken.

31
Q

What is velocity?

A

The change in displacement of the object divided by the time taken.

32
Q

What is acceleration?

A

The change in velocity divided by the time taken.

33
Q

Define parabolic path

A

The shape of the path of a particle moving with a component of motion at right angles to a constant resultant force (constant acceleration).

34
Q

Give Newton’s First Law

A

An object remains at rest or moves with a constant velocity providing no resultant external force is applied.

35
Q

Give Newton’s Second Law

A

For a constant mass the acceleration of the object is proportional to the resultant force
applied to it (and is inversely proportional to its mass -> a = F/m)

36
Q

Give Newton’s Third Law

A

If object A applies a force F object on B, object B applies a force of –F (minus F, i.e. in the
opposite direction) on object A.

37
Q

Define work

A

Work done equals force multiplied by the distance moved in the direction of the force.
(The force is being used to move an object)

38
Q

What is power?

A

Power equals work done divided by time.

39
Q

State the principle of conservation of energy

A

Energy cannot be created or destroyed it can only be changed from one form to another.

40
Q

Define amplitude

A

The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position

41
Q

Define frequency

A

The number of whole oscillations per second.

42
Q

Define wavelength

A

The distance between two consecutive particles in a wave which are in phase.

43
Q

Define wave speed

A

The speed of energy transfer through the medium.

44
Q

Define path difference

A

The extra distance one of the waves coming from two sources has to travel to reach a point.

(The difference in distance travelled between the waves at a point)

45
Q

Define electromagnetic wave

A

A transverse wave, consisting of a changing magnetic field at right angles to a changing electric field.

46
Q

Define polarised waves

A

Electromagnetic waves with an electric field vector in one plane only.

47
Q

Define unpolarised waves

A

Electromagnetic waves with an electric field vector in many directions.

48
Q

What is refractive index?

A

The absolute refractive index of the substance is the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the speed of light in the substance.

49
Q

Define critical angle

A

The angle of incidence on a boundary between two media when the angle of refraction is 90°.

(The first media must be denser than the second)

50
Q

Define total internal reflection

A

When the angle of incidence is greater than critical angle and all the light is reflected within the substance.

51
Q

Define “stationary wave”

A

A stationary wave is formed by two waves of the same frequency and similar amplitude travelling in opposite directions.

52
Q

Define node

A

A point on stationary wave with zero amplitude.

53
Q

Define antinode

A

A point on stationary wave with maximum amplitude.

54
Q

Define the fundamental frequency

A

The lowest frequency of a wave which will produce a stationary wave.
(Produces the first harmonic)

55
Q

Define coherence

A

Coherent waves have the same frequency and a constant phase relationship.

56
Q

Define “fringe spacing”

A

The distance between two consecutive maxima or minima in an interference pattern.

57
Q

What is impulse?

A

Force multiplied by time.

58
Q

State the principle of conservation of momentum

A

Momentum in a collision is always conserved providing no resultant external forces are acting.

59
Q

Define an elastic collision

A

Kinetic energy is conserved

60
Q

Define an inelastic collision

A

Kinetic energy is not conserved

61
Q

Define an explosion / explosive collision

A

Kinetic energy is increased due to transfer of energy from the explosion

62
Q

State Hooke’s Law

A

The extension of a spring or material is proportional to the tensile force applied (this applies up to the limit of proportionality of the material).

63
Q

Define “elastic limit”

A

The point beyond which a material or spring stretched when it will not return to its original length.

64
Q

Define tensile stress

A

Tensile force divided by cross-sectional area of the material.

65
Q

Define tensile strain

A

Extension divided by original length.

66
Q

What is plastic behaviour?

A

A material undergoing plastic behaviour will not return to its original shape after deforming forces are removed.

67
Q

Define fracture

A

This is when the material breaks. Materials are compared by their ultimate tensile stress, this is the tensile stress needed to break the material (strength of material).

68
Q

Define brittleness

A

A brittle material will not undergo plastic deformation before fracture.

69
Q

What is the Young Modulus?

A

Tensile stress divided by tensile strain.

Year 12 and 13 Physics (9 decks)

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