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Physics > hl definitions > Flashcards

hl definitions Flashcards

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AP® Physics flashcards Physics 101 flashcards
1
Q

angular frequency (ω)

A

the angular speed that an object undergoing uniform circular motion would have were it to match an object undergoing simple harmonic motion

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2
Q

critical damping

A

damping where the simple harmonic motion stops the first time the object passes through the equilibrium position

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3
Q

damping

A

the removal of energy from an object undergoing simple harmonic motion by a force opposing the motion

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4
Q

diffraction grating

A

a screen that has hundreds of slits per mm through which light can pass

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5
Q

Doppler effect

A

the change in frequency of a wave as a result of movement of the source or the observer

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6
Q

modulation

A

the reshaping of a double slit interference pattern by single slit diffraction

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7
Q

Rayleigh criterion

A

occurs when the maximum of one diffraction pattern is over the first minimum of the other

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8
Q

resolution

A

the ability to detect the two light sources as seperate

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9
Q

resolvance (R)

A

(of a diffraction grating) - the ratio between the wavelength being investigated (λ) and the smallest possible resolvable wavelength difference (∆λ)

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10
Q

electric field

A

a region of space where an object experiences a force because of its charge

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11
Q

electric field strength (E)

A

the force per unit charge experienced by a small positive test charge placed in the field

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12
Q

electric potential (Ve)

A

work done per unit charge in bringing a small positive test charge from infinity to that point

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13
Q

escape speed (Vesc)

A

the speed a body needs to escape the gravitational attraction of a planet (i.e. to reach an infinite distance away) from the surface of the planet

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14
Q

gravitational field

A

a region of space where an object experiences a force because of its mass

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15
Q

gravitational field strength (g)

A

the force per unit mass experienced by a small point test mass placed in the field

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16
Q

gravitational potential energy (Ep)

A

the work done in moving a mass from infinity to that point

17
Q

gravitational potential (Vg)

A

the work done in taking a unit mass from infinity to that point

18
Q

capacitance

A

ratio of charge stored to the potential difference between the plates of a capacitor

19
Q

dielectric

A

an insulating material that can be placed between the plates of a capacitor in order to increase its capacitance

20
Q

eddy currents

A

currents induced in the core of a transformer by the changing magnetic flux and cause energy losses by heating up the core

21
Q

Faraday’s law

A

the magnitude of an induced emf is proportional to the rate of change of flux linkage

22
Q

flux linkage

A

the product of the number of turns in a coil and the flux through the coil

23
Q

Lenz’s law

A

the direction of the induced end is such that if an induced current were to flow, it would oppose the change which caused it

24
Q

magnetic flux

A

is equal to BA cos θ, where B is magnetic field strength, A is area and θ is the angle between the field lines and the normal to the plane of area

25
Q

rectification

A

the conversion of alternating current to direct current

26
Q

rms current/voltage

A

the value of current or voltage is that would produce the same amount of power as the equivalent DC value

27
Q

time constant

A

the time taken for the voltage or current to fall to 37% of its maximum value during the discharge of capacitor

28
Q

becquerel

A

unit of activity - the number of radioactive particles being emitted per second

29
Q

de Broglie wavelength

A

the wavelength of a matter wave

30
Q

deep inelastic scattering

A

the scattering of high energy electrons off the quarks within the protons and neutrons of the nucleus

31
Q

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

A

the simultaneous measurement of the position and momentum of a particle will always have some uncertainty

32
Q

pair production

A

the interaction of a photon with a nucleus that produces an elementary particle and its corresponding antiparticle

33
Q

photoelectric effect

A

the emission of electrons from a metal surface when light is shone upon it

34
Q

quantum tunneling

A

a process whereby quantum particles can overcome potential (energy) barriers deemed impossible according to classical physics

35
Q

stopping potential

A

the voltage at which electrons are brought to a halt as the electrical energy matches their kinetic energy

36
Q

threshold frequency

A

lowest frequency of a light that causes electron emission from a metal’s surface

37
Q

wave function

A

the square of the wave function gives the probability per unit volume of finding the electron at that position

38
Q

work function

A

the minimum amount of energy needed by an electron to escape a metal’s surface

Physics (13 decks)

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