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Physics > Definitions (ALL) > Flashcards

Definitions (ALL) Flashcards

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AP® Physics flashcards Physics 101 flashcards
1
Q

Define physical quantity

A

A quantity that can be measured and consists of magnitude and unit

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2
Q

Define base quantities

A

A set of independent physical quantities

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3
Q

Define oscillation(pendulum)

A

The regular repeating, back-and-forth motion of a simple pendulum

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4
Q

Define period of oscillation

A

Time taken for one complete oscillation

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5
Q

Define incident ray

A

The light ray going towards the surface

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6
Q

Define reflected ray

A

The light ray going away from the surface

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7
Q

Define point of incidence

A

The point at which incident ray strikes the surface

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8
Q

Define normal

A

The perpendicular line to the surface at the point of incidence

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9
Q

Define angle of incidence

A

The angle between the incident ray and the normal

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10
Q

Define angle of reflection

A

The angle between the reflected ray and the normal

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11
Q

Define refraction

A

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another medium of different optical density

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12
Q

Define refracted ray

A

Light ray that enters a medium and undergoes a change of direction

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13
Q

Define refractive index

A

The ratio of speed of light in vacuum to speed of light in medium

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14
Q

Define total internal reflection

A

Complete reflection of a light ray in an optically denser medium at the boundary with an optically less dense medium

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15
Q

Define critical angle c

A

The angle of incidence in optically denser medium for which angle of refraction in optically less dense medium is 90

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16
Q

Define lens

A

A piece of clear plastic or glass with curved surface for concentrating or dispersing light rays

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17
Q

Define focal length of converging lens

A

The distance between optical centre C and principal focal point F (on the principal axis where the rays parallel to the principal axis meet after passing through the lens) - 2m

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18
Q

Define ionising radiation

A

Radiation that has the energy to remove electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionising them

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19
Q

Define wave

A

A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space, transferring energy with it but not matter

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20
Q

Define transverse wave

A

A transverse wave has a direction of vibration that is perpendicular to direction of wave travel

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21
Q

Define longitudinal waves

A

A longitudinal wave has direction of vibration parallel to direction of wave travel

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22
Q

Define amplitude of wave

A

The maximum displacement of a point from its rest position

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23
Q

Define wavelength

A

The shortest distance between any two points of a wave which are in a phase

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24
Q

Define displacement-distance graph

A

A plot of displacements of all points of a wave at an instant

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25
Q

Define period of wave

A

The time taken to produce one complete wave

26
Q

Define frequency of wave

A

The number of complete waves produced per unit time

27
Q

Define wave speed

A

The distance travelled by the wave per unit time

28
Q

Define wavefront

A

An imaginary line on a wave that joins all adjacent points that are in phase

29
Q

Define sound

A

A longitudinal wave travelling in a medium, created by a vibrating source

30
Q

Define echo

A

The repetition of sound due to the reflection of sound

31
Q

Define ultrasound

A

Ultrasound is sound with frequencies above the upper limit of the human range of audibility

32
Q

Define speed

A

Speed is the distance travelled per unit time

33
Q

Define velocity

A

Velocity is the rate of change in displacement

34
Q

Define average speed

A

Average speed assumes an object moves at same speed throughout entire distance

35
Q

Define instantaneous speed

A

Speed of an object at a particular instant

36
Q

Define acceleration

A

The rate of change of velocity

37
Q

Define scalar quantity

A

Physical quantities that only have magnitude

38
Q

Define vector quantity

A

Physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction

39
Q

Define mass

A

A measure of the amount of matter in a body

40
Q

Define weight

A

The gravitational force acting on an object that has mass

41
Q

Define gravitational field

A

A region in which mass experiences a force due to gravitational attraction

42
Q

Define gravitational field strength

A

The gravitational force per unit mass placed at that point

43
Q

Define inertia

A

Inertia of an object is the reluctance of the object to change its state of rest or motion due to its mass

44
Q

Define friction

A

Friction is the contact force that opposes or tends to oppose motions between surfaces in contact

45
Q

Define moment of a force

A

The product of the force and perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the force

46
Q

Define centre of gravity

A

The point at which the weight of the object appears to act

47
Q

Define stability

A

The ability to return to its original position after it is slightly displaced

48
Q

Define internal energy of a substance

A

The sum of kinetic energy due to the random motion of particles and potential energy due to forces of attraction between the particles

49
Q

Define kinetic energy

A

Kinetic energy is the energy a body possess due to its motion

50
Q

Define gravitational potential energy

A

The energy a body possess due to its position relative to a reference level, usually the ground.

51
Q

Define work done

A

Energy transferred mechanically by force acting over a distance

52
Q

Define power

A

Power is rate of work done or rate of energy transfer

53
Q

Define density

A

Density of a substance is its mass per unit volume

54
Q

Define pressure

A

Force acting per unit area

55
Q

Define heat capacity

A

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1K or 1C

56
Q

Define specific heat capacity

A

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by 1K or 1C

57
Q

Define melting

A

The change from solid state to liquid state when energy is transferred to the substance. During this process, temperature of pure substance remains constant

58
Q

Define boiling

A

Boiling is change from liquid state to gaseous state when energy is transferred to the substance. During the process, temperature of a pure substance remains constant

59
Q

Define latent heat

A

The energy released or absorbed to change the state of a substance at a constant temperature

60
Q

Define latent heat of fusion/vapourisation

A

The amount of heat required/released to change a substance between the solid/liquid and liquid/gas states, at constant temperature

61
Q

Define specific heat of fusion/vapourisation

A

The amount of heat required/released to change a unit mass of substance between solid/liquid and liquid/gas states, at constant temperature

Physics (21 decks)

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