Glossary Flashcards
Absolute Uncertainty
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
Acceleration of free fall (g)
The acceleration of a body falling under gravity. On Earth this value is 9.81ms^-2
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity (is a vector) [ms^-2]
Accuracy
The degree to which a value obtained by an experiment is close to the actual or true value
Ammeter
A device used to measure electric current, connect in series
Ampere
S.I Unit of current (Commonly referred to as amps)
Amplitude
The maximum displacement of a wave from it’s mean (rest) position [m]
Anomalous
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
Antinode
A point on a stationary wave where the particles vary by the maximum amount
Archimedes Principle
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
Area
A physical quantity representing the size of a surface [m^2]
Braking Distance
The distance a vehicle travels while decelerating to a stop
Brittle
A material that brakes with little or no plastic deformation
Centre of Gravity
The point at which the entire weight of an object can be considered to act
Centre of Mass
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
Closed System
Any system in which all the energy transfers are accounted for; energy or matter cannot leave
Coherence
Two waves with a constant phase relationship
Components of a Vector
The results from resolving a single vector into it’s horizontal and vertical parts
Components
Parts of electric circuits
Compressive Force
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
Conductor
A material with a high density of conduction electrons and therefore a low resistance
Conservation of Charge
Physical Law stating charge is conserved in all interactions; it cannot be created or destroyed
Conservation of Energy
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
Conventional Current
A model used to describe the movement of charge from positive to negative
Coulomb
Unit of electric charge [C]
Couple
Two forces that are opposite and equal but not on the same straight line
De Broglie Equation
An equation expressing the wavelength of a particle as a ratio of Planck’s constant and the particles momentum
Deformation
The change in shape or size of an object; if it returns to it’s original shape it is elastic
Celsius
Unit for temperature (NOT the S.I unit)
Density
Mass per unit volume [kgm^-3]
Diffraction
When a wave spreads out after passing around an obstacle or through a gap
Displacement
The distance travelled in a particular direction (vector) [m]
Distance
How far one point is from another [m] (kinda dodgy)
Drag Coefficient
A characteristic that determines the amount of drag that acts on an object
Drag
The resistive force that acts on a body when it moves through a fluid
Drift velocity
The average velocity of an electron as it travels through a wire
Ductile
Can be drawn into wires and shows plastic deformation under tensile stress before breaking
Efficiency
The ratio of useful output energy to total input energy
Elastic Deformation
The object will return to its original shape when the deforming force is removed
Elastic Limit
The point at which elastic deformation becomes plastic deformation
Elastic Potential Energy
The energy stored in a stretched or compressed object [J]
Elasticity
The property of a body to resume its original shape or size once the deforming force or stress has been removed
Electric Charge
{A physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field} [C]
Electric Current
The flow of charge
Electrolyte
A fluid that contains ions that are free to move and hence conduct electricity
Electromagnetic wave
A self propagating transverse wave that does not require a medium to travel through
Electromotive Force (E.M.F)
The energy gained
