Glossary

Question 1

Absolute Uncertainty

Answer 1

A measurement showing how large the uncertainty actually is with the same units as the measured quantity.

A measurement of 25.4cm +- 0.1cm has an absolute uncertainty of 0.1cm

Question 2

Acceleration of free fall (g)

Answer 2

The acceleration of a body falling under gravity. On Earth this value is 9.81ms^-2

Question 3

Acceleration

Answer 3

The rate of change of velocity (is a vector) [ms^-2]

Question 4

Accuracy

Answer 4

The degree to which a value obtained by an experiment is close to the actual or true value

Question 5

Ammeter

Answer 5

A device used to measure electric current, connect in series

Question 6

Ampere

Answer 6

S.I Unit of current (Commonly referred to as amps)

Question 7

Amplitude

Answer 7

The maximum displacement of a wave from it’s mean (rest) position [m]

Question 8

Anomalous

Answer 8

Values in a set of data that do not fit the overall trend and so are judged to not be part of the inherent variation

Question 9

Antinode

Answer 9

A point on a stationary wave where the particles vary by the maximum amount

Question 10

Archimedes Principle

Answer 10

The upward buoyant force (upthrust) exerted on an object immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces

Question 11

Area

Answer 11

A physical quantity representing the size of a surface [m^2]

Question 12

Braking Distance

Answer 12

The distance a vehicle travels while decelerating to a stop

Question 13

Brittle

Answer 13

A material that brakes with little or no plastic deformation

Question 14

Centre of Gravity

Answer 14

The point at which the entire weight of an object can be considered to act

Question 15

Centre of Mass

Answer 15

The single point at which all of the mass of the object can be assumed to be situated. For a symmetrical body of constant density, this will be at the centre of the object

Question 16

Closed System

Answer 16

Any system in which all the energy transfers are accounted for; energy or matter cannot leave

Question 17

Coherence

Answer 17

Two waves with a constant phase relationship

Question 18

Components of a Vector

Answer 18

The results from resolving a single vector into it’s horizontal and vertical parts

Question 19

Components

Answer 19

Parts of electric circuits

Question 20

Compressive Force

Answer 20

Two or more forces that have the effect of reducing the volume of the object on which they are acting, or reducing the length of a spring

Question 21

Conductor

Answer 21

A material with a high density of conduction electrons and therefore a low resistance

Question 22

Conservation of Charge

Answer 22

Physical Law stating charge is conserved in all interactions; it cannot be created or destroyed

Question 23

Conservation of Energy

Answer 23

Physical Law stating that energy cannot be create or destroyed; just transformed from one from into another or transferred from one place to another. This is the situation in a closed system

Question 24

Conventional Current

Answer 24

A model used to describe the movement of charge from positive to negative

Question 25

Coulomb

Answer 25

Unit of electric charge [C]

Question 26

Couple

Answer 26

Two forces that are opposite and equal but not on the same straight line

Question 27

De Broglie Equation

Answer 27

An equation expressing the wavelength of a particle as a ratio of Planck's constant and the particles momentum

Question 28

Deformation

Answer 28

The change in shape or size of an object; if it returns to it's original shape it is elastic

Question 29

Celsius

Answer 29

Unit for temperature (NOT the S.I unit)

Question 30

Density

Answer 30

Mass per unit volume [kgm^-3]

Question 31

Diffraction

Answer 31

When a wave spreads out after passing around an obstacle or through a gap

Question 32

Displacement

Answer 32

The distance travelled in a particular direction (vector) [m]

Question 33

Distance

Answer 33

How far one point is from another [m] (kinda dodgy)

Question 34

Drag Coefficient

Answer 34

A characteristic that determines the amount of drag that acts on an object

Question 35

Drag

Answer 35

The resistive force that acts on a body when it moves through a fluid

Question 36

Drift velocity

Answer 36

The average velocity of an electron as it travels through a wire

Question 37

Ductile

Answer 37

Can be drawn into wires and shows plastic deformation under tensile stress before breaking

Question 38

Efficiency

Answer 38

The ratio of useful output energy to total input energy

Question 39

Elastic Deformation

Answer 39

The object will return to its original shape when the deforming force is removed

Question 40

Elastic Limit

Answer 40

The point at which elastic deformation becomes plastic deformation

Question 41

Elastic Potential Energy

Answer 41

The energy stored in a stretched or compressed object [J]

Question 42

Elasticity

Answer 42

The property of a body to resume its original shape or size once the deforming force or stress has been removed

Question 43

Electric Charge

Answer 43

{A physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field} [C]

Question 44

Electric Current

Answer 44

The flow of charge

Question 45

Electrolyte

Answer 45

A fluid that contains ions that are free to move and hence conduct electricity

Question 46

Electromagnetic wave

Answer 46

A self propagating transverse wave that does not require a medium to travel through

Question 47

Electromotive Force (E.M.F)

Answer 47

The energy gained