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AS Physics > Key Terms and Definitions > Flashcards

Key Terms and Definitions Flashcards

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0
Q

Acceleration

A

The rate of change of an object’s velocity. Unit: ms-1

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1
Q

Absorption Line Spectrum

A

A dark line of a unique wavelength seen in a continuous spectrum.

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2
Q

Ampere

A

SI unit of electric current.

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3
Q

Amplitude.

A

The maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position.

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4
Q

Antinode

A

A point on a stationary wave with maximum amplitude.

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5
Q

Braking Distance

A

The distance travelled by a vehicle from the moment when the brakes are applied until the vehicle comes to a stop.

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6
Q

Brittle

A

Describes an object that shows no plastic deformation and breaks just beyond its elastic limit.

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7
Q

Centre of Gravity

A

The point where the entire weight of an object appears to act.

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8
Q

Charge Carrier

A

Any charged particles responsible for an electric current. These are electrons in a metal and ions in an electrolyte.

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9
Q

Coherent

A

Two wave sources are coherent when they emit waves with a constant phase difference.

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10
Q

Components (of a vector)

A

The magnitudes of a vector quantity in two perpendicular directions.

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11
Q

Compression

A

A region in a longitudinal wave where air pressure is greater than its mean value.

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12
Q

Compressive

A

A force that squeezes an object.

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13
Q

Constructive Interference

A

When two waves reinforce to give increased amplitude.

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14
Q

Coulomb

A

The amount of charge that passes a point when a current of one amp flows for one second.

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15
Q

Density

A

The mass per unit volume of a material.

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16
Q

Destructive Interference

A

When two waves cancel to give reduced amplitude.

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17
Q

Diffraction

A

The spreading of a wave as it passes through a gap or past the edge of an object.

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18
Q

Displacement

A

The distance moved by an object in a particular direction.

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19
Q

Ductile

A

Describes a material that can easily be drawn into wires.

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20
Q

Efficiency

A

The ratio of useful energy to total input energy for a device, expressed as a ratio.

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21
Q

Elastic

A

Describes a material which will return to its original shape when the forces acting upon it are removed.

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22
Q

Elastic Limit

A

The value of stress beyond which an object will not return to its original dimensions.

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23
Q

Elastic Potential Energy

A

Energy stored in an extended or compressed material.

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24
Q

Electrical Resistance

A

The ratio of potential difference to current.

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25
Q

Electrolyte

A

An electrically conducting solution.

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26
Q

Electromagnetic Spectrum

A

A family of waves that travel through a vacuum at a speed of 3.0 x 10^8 ms-1

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27
Q

Electromotive Force

A

The energy gained per unit charge by charges passing through a supply.

28
Q

Electronvolt

A

The energy gained by an electron travelling through a p.d of 1 volt.

29
Q

Elementary Charge

A

The smallest unit of charge that a particle of object can have. It has a magnitude of 1.6 x 10^-19 C.

30
Q

Emission Line Spectrum

A

A sharp and bright line of a unique wavelength seen in a spectrum.

31
Q

Energy Level

A

The quantised energy states of an electron in an atom.

32
Q

Force Constant

A

The ratio of force to extension for a spring or a wire.

33
Q

Frequency

A

The number of oscillations of a particle per unit time.

34
Q

Fundamental Frequency

A

The lowest frequency stationary wave for a particular system.

35
Q

Gravitational Potential Energy

A

Energy stored by an object by virtue of its position in the Earth’s gravitational field.

36
Q

Ground State

A

The lowest energy state that can be occupied by an electron in an atom.

37
Q

Hooke’s Law

A

The extension produced in an object is proportional to the force producing it, provided the elastic limit is not exceeded.

38
Q

Elastic

A

Describes a material which will return to its original shape when the forces acting upon it are removed.

39
Q

Elastic Limit

A

The value of stress beyond which an object will not return to its original dimensions.

40
Q

Elastic Potential Energy

A

Energy stored in an extended or compressed material.

41
Q

Electrical Resistance

A

The ratio of potential difference to current.

42
Q

Electrolyte

A

An electrically conducting solution.

43
Q

Electromagnetic Spectrum

A

A family of waves that travel through a vacuum at a speed of 3.0 x 10^8 ms-1

44
Q

Electromotive Force

A

The energy gained per unit charge by charges passing through a supply.

45
Q

Electronvolt

A

The energy gained by an electron travelling through a p.d of 1 volt.

46
Q

Elementary Charge

A

The smallest unit of charge that a particle of object can have. It has a magnitude of 1.6 x 10^-19 C.

47
Q

Emission Line Spectrum

A

A sharp and bright line of a unique wavelength seen in a spectrum.

48
Q

Energy Level

A

The quantised energy states of an electron in an atom.

49
Q

Force Constant

A

The ratio of force to extension for a spring or a wire.

50
Q

Frequency

A

The number of oscillations of a particle per unit time.

51
Q

Fundamental Frequency

A

The lowest frequency stationary wave for a particular system.

52
Q

Gravitational Potential Energy

A

Energy stored by an object by virtue of its position in the Earth’s gravitational field.

53
Q

Ground State

A

The lowest energy state that can be occupied by an electron in an atom.

54
Q

Hooke’s Law

A

The extension produced in an object is proportional to the force producing it, provided the elastic limit is not exceeded.

55
Q

Interference

A

The formation of points of cancellation and reinforcement where two coherent waves pass through each other.

56
Q

Internal Resistance

A

The resistance of an e.m.f source.

57
Q

Kilowatt-Hour

A

The energy transferred by a 1kW device in the time of 1 hour.

58
Q

Kirchoff’s First Law

A

The sum of the currents entering any point in a circuit is equal to the sum of the currents leaving that same point.

59
Q

Kirchoff’s Second Law

A

The sum of the e.m.f.s round a loop in a circuit is equal to the sum of the p.d.s in that same loop.

60
Q

Mean Drift Velocity

A

The average speed of charged particles along the length of a conductor.

61
Q

Moment

A

The moment of a force about a point is the magnitude of the force multiplied by the perpendicular distance of the point from the line of action of the force.

62
Q

Newton

A

The amount of force produced when a mass of 1 kg is accelerated at a rate of 1 ms^-1.

63
Q

Node

A

A point on a stationary wave with zero amplitude.

64
Q

Number/Charge Density

A

The number of charged particles per unit volume.

65
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

The current in a metallic conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its ends, providing temperature remains constant.

66
Q

Path Difference

A

The differences in the distances travelled by two waves from coherent sources at a particular point.

67
Q

Phase Difference

A

The fraction of a cycle between the oscillations of two particles, expressed in degrees.

68
Q

Photon

A

A quantum of electromagnetic energy.

AS Physics (1 decks)

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