Definitions Flashcards
Define Kepler’s Third Law
The square of orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the radius of its orbit
Define inertia
The tendency of an object to remain at rest or if moving to continue its motion in a straight line at constant velocity.
Define specific heat capacity
The heat energy needed to increase the temperature of 1kg substance by 1oC.
Define momentum
Product of mass and velocity
Which law is inertia related to? Define the law
Newton’s First Law of motion. A body will remain at rest or continue its motion unless acted by an external force
Define critical angle
The angle in which the incident angle from medium of higher optical density produces a refraction angle which is 90o in the medium of lower optical density
Define damping
Decrease in altitude of oscillating system due to gradual loss of energy
Define Charles’ Law. What is the formula related?
The volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its temperature provided the pressure is kept constant.
V/T = V/T
What is a black body?
An idealized body which can absorb all EM radiation and emit thermal radiation depending on its temperature.
Define chain reaction
when products of a nuclear reaction initiates another similar nuclear reaction
Define current. Deduce a formula which relates current to charge(Q) and time (t)
rate of flow of charge in conductor
Q=It
Define Faraday’s Law
The induced emf produced is directly proportional to the rate of cutting of magnetic flux
What is catapult field
The resultant magnetic field produced from the interaction between magnetic field lines of a permanent magnet and that of a current carrying conductor
Define the Principle of Conservation of MOmentum
the total momentum in a closed system is always conserved
Define Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion
Every action has a reaction of the same magnitude but in opposite direction.
Define transverse waves.
Wave in which vibration of particles in the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation
What is parallax error?
Error in reading the instrument as the eye of the observer and pointer are not perpendicular to the scale
Define thermal equilibrium
When net heat transfer between two objects in thermal contact is zero
Define Pascal’s principle
Pressure exerted on the surface of a fluid is transferred uniformly to the entire fluid.
Explain Archimedes principle
An object immersed partially or fully in a fluid experiences buoyant force equal to the weight of fluid displaced
What principle is related to velocity and pressure of fluid?
Bernoulli’s principle
Define nuclear fission reaction
When one large unstable heavy nucleaus splits into 2 or more smaller lighter nuclei while emmitting radioactive energy.
Define Newton’s second Law of Motion
the rate of change of momentum is directly proportional to the force acting on it.
What is specific latent heat of vapourisation?
The amount of heat energy required when changing the state of a 1kg liquid to gas or gas to liquid without changing its temperature
