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Physics A level > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

Work

A

the product of the force and displacement (of its point of application) in the direction of the force OR when an object is moved over a distance by an external force applied in the direction of its displacement

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2
Q

Electric field strength

A

The electrostatic force per unit positive charge acting on a stationary point charge at that point.

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3
Q

Scalar

A

A scalar is a quantity which only has a magnitude (size)

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4
Q

Vector

A

It is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude

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5
Q

Random error

A

Random errors cause unpredictable fluctuations in an instrument’s readings as a result of uncontrollable factors,

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6
Q

Systematic error

A

Systematic errors arise from the use of faulty instruments used or from flaws in the experimental method

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7
Q

precision

A

this is how close the measured values are to each other

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8
Q

accuracy

A

this is how close a measured value is to the true value

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9
Q

Distance

A

the total length between two points

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10
Q

Speed

A

the total distance travelled per unit of time

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11
Q

Displacement

A

the distance of an object from a fixed point in a specified direction

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12
Q

Velocity

A

the rate of change of displacement of an object

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13
Q

Acceleration

A

the rate of change of velocity of an object

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14
Q

mass

A

Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in an object

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15
Q

Weight

A

is the effect of a gravitational field on a mass OR product of mass and acceleration due to gravity or the gravitational field strength.

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16
Q

newton’s first law

A

A body will remain at rest or move with constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force

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17
Q

newton’s second law

A

A resultant force acting on a body will cause a change in momentum in the direction of the force. The rate of change in momentum is proportional to the magnitude of the force

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18
Q

newton’s third law

A

If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B will exert a force on body A of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction

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19
Q

Momentum

A

Product of mass and velocity

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20
Q

Force

A

the rate of change of momentum on a body

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21
Q

Drag force

A

Drag forces are forces acting the opposite direction to an object moving through a fluid .eg. air resistance , friction

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22
Q

The principle of conservation of momentum

A

The total momentum of a system remains constant provided no external force acts on it OR the total momentum before the collision = the total momentum after the collision

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23
Q

External forces

A

forces that act on a structure from outside

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24
Q

Internal Forces

A

forces exchanged by the particles in the system

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25
Q

Closed system

A

a system with no external forces

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26
Q

Elastic collisions

A

where objects colliding do not stick together ,then move in opposite directions and the kinetic energy is conserved

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27
Q

Inelastic collision

A

where objects collide and stick together after the collision and kinetic energy is not conserved

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28
Q

Centre of Gravity

A

the point at which the weight of the object may be considered to act

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29
Q

Centre of mass

A

the point at which the mass of the object may be considered to act

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30
Q

Moment

A

The turning effect of the force OR the product of force and perpendicular distance from the pivot in a particular direction

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31
Q

Principle of Moments

A

For a system to be in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about a point must be equal to the sum of the anticlockwise moments (about the same point)

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32
Q

Couple

A

A couple is a pair of forces that acts to produce rotation only

33
Q

Torque

A

The moment of the couple

34
Q

Density

A

mass per unit volume of an object

35
Q

Pressure

A

force per unit area

36
Q

Hydrostatic Pressure

A

pressure that is exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity

37
Q

Upthrust

A

force which pushes upwards on an object submerged in a fluid i.e. liquids and gases

38
Q

Archimedes Principle

A

an object submerged in a fluid at rest has an upward buoyancy force (upthrust) equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object

39
Q

Principle of Conservation of Energy

A

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change from one form to another

40
Q

Efficiency

A

the ratio of the useful energy output from the system to the total energy input

41
Q

Power

A

rate at which it transfers energy

42
Q

G.P.E

A

Gravitational potential energy is energy stored in a mass due to its position in a gravitational field

43
Q

Kinetic Energy

A

energy an object has due to its motion (or velocity)

44
Q

Hooke’s Law

A

its extension is directly proportional to the applied force (load)

45
Q

Tensile stress

A

applied force per unit cross sectional area of a material

46
Q

Strain

A

extension per unit length

47
Q

Young Modulus

A

The Young modulus is the measure of the ability of a material to withstand changes in length with an added load ie. how stiff a material is

48
Q

Elastic Deformation

A

when the load is removed, the object will return to its original shape

49
Q

Plastic Deformation

A

when the load is removed, the object will not return to its original shape or length. This is beyond the elastic limit

50
Q

Elastic Limit

A

the point beyond which the object does not return to its original length when the load is removed

51
Q

Elastic potential energy

A

energy stored within a material (e.g. in a spring) when it is stretched or compressed

52
Q

Transverse Waves

A

The oscillations/vibrations can be perpendicular or parallel to the direction of wave travel:
When they are perpendicular, they are transverse waves.A transverse wave is one where the particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave travel (and energy transfer)

53
Q

Longitudinal Waves

A

When they are parallel, they are longitudinal waves.A longitudinal wave is one where the particles oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave travel (and energy transfer)

54
Q

Displacement

A

Displacement (x) of a wave is the distance from its equilibrium position.

55
Q

Amplitude

A

Amplitude (A) is the maximum displacement of a particle in the wave from its equilibrium position

56
Q

Wavelength

A

Wavelength (λ) is the distance between points on successive oscillations of the wave that are in phase

57
Q

Period

A

Period (T) or time period, is the time taken for one complete oscillation or cycle of the wave.

58
Q

Frequency

A

Frequency (f) is the number of complete oscillations per unit time.

59
Q

Phase difference

A

The phase difference tells us how much a point or a wave is in front or behind another

60
Q

Progressive Waves

A

Waves that transfer energy are known as progressive waves

61
Q

Stationary Waves

A

Waves that do not transfer energy are known as stationary wave

62
Q

Intensity

A

The amount of energy passing (power) through a unit area per unit time

63
Q

Spherical Waves

A

A spherical wave is a wave from a point source which spreads out equally in all directions

64
Q

Doppler Effect

A

This frequency change due to the relative motion between a source of sound or light and an observer

65
Q

Principle of Superposition

A

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves with the same frequency travelling in opposite directions overlap, the resultant displacement is the sum of displacements of each wave

66
Q

Antinodes

A

Antinodes are where the vibrations are at their maximum amplitude

67
Q

Nodes

A

Nodes are where there is no vibration

68
Q

Diffraction

A

Diffraction is the spreading out of waves when they pass an obstruction

69
Q

Interference

A

sum of the displacement of each wave

70
Q

Current

A

the flow of charge carriers

71
Q

Conventional current

A

flow of positive charge from the positive terminal of a cell to the negative terminal

72
Q

Potential Difference

A

energy transferred per unit charge flowing from one point to another

73
Q

Resistance

A

opposition to current

74
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

Ohm’s law states that for a conductor at a constant temperature, the current through it is proportional to the potential difference across it

75
Q

Resistivity

A

Resistivity is a property that describes the extent to which a material opposes the flow of electric current through it

76
Q

e.m.f

A

the potential difference across the cell when no current is flowing OR the amount of chemical energy converted to electrical energy per coulomb of charge (C) when charge passes through a power supply

77
Q

Kirchoff’s First Law

A

The sum of the currents entering a junction always equal the sum of the currents out of the junction

78
Q

Kirchoff’s Second Law

A

The sum of the e.m.f’s in a closed circuit equals the sum of the potential differences

79
Q

Quark

A

Quarks are fundamental particles that make up other subatomic particles

Physics A level (1 decks)

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