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Science Required Practicals and key words > Physics key terms > Flashcards

Physics key terms Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an alternator?

A

An alternating current generator.

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2
Q

What is an angle of incidence?

A

The angle between the incidence (incoming) ray and the normal.

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3
Q

What is an angle of reflection?

A

The angle between the reflected (outgoing) ray and the normal.

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4
Q

What is a black dwarf?

A

A star that has faded out and gone cold.

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5
Q

What is Boyle’s law?

A

For a fixed mass of gas at a constant temperature, its pressure multiplied by its volume is constant.

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6
Q

What are carrier waves?

A

Waves used to carry any type of signal.

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7
Q

What is centripetal force?

A

The resultant force towards the centre of a circle, acting on an object moving in a circular path.

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8
Q

What is a ‘charge-coupled device’ (CCD)

A

An electrical device that creates an electronic signal from an optical image formed on the CCD’s array of pixels. E.g. in a digital camera.

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9
Q

What is a concave (Diverging) lens?

A

A lens that makes parallel rays diverge (spread out).

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10
Q

What is a contrast medium?

A

X-ray absorbing substances used to fill a body organ so the organ can be seen on a radiograph.

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11
Q

What is CMBR (Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation)?

A

Electromagnetic radiation that has been travelling through space ever since shortly after the Big Bang.

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12
Q

What is dark matter?

A

Matter in a galaxy that cannot be seen. Its presence is deduced because galaxies would spin much faster if their stars were only (visible) matter.

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13
Q

What is diffuse reflection?

A

When light rays are scattered in different directions.

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14
Q

What is driving force?

A

The force of a vehicle that makes it move AKA Thrust

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15
Q

What is a dynamo?

A

A direct current generator.

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16
Q

What is an electromagnet?

A

An insulated wire wrapped around an iron core that becomes magnetic when there is a current in the wire.

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17
Q

What is electromagnetic induction?

A

The process of inducing a potential difference in a wire by moving the wire so that it cuts across the lines of a magnetic field.

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18
Q

What is meant by focal length?

A

The distance from the centre of a lens to the point where light rays parallel to the principal axis are focussed (or in the case of a diverging lens, appear to diverge from).

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19
Q

What is frequency of oscillating motion?

A

The number of complete cycles of oscillations per second. Equal to 1 ÷ the time period.

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20
Q

What is the generator effect?

A

The production of a potential difference using a magnetic field.

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21
Q

What is Hooke’s law?

A

The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied, as long as its limit of proportionality is not exceeded.

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22
Q

What is inertia?

A

The tendency of an object to stay at rest or to continue in a uniform motion.

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23
Q

What is the limit of proportionality?

A

The limit for Hooke’s law applied to the extension of a stretched spring.

24
Q

What is a magnetic field line?

A

Line in a magnetic field along which a magnetic compass points – also called a line of force.

25
Q

What is a magnifying glass?

A
  • A converging lens

- Must be placed between the lens and its focal point.

26
Q

What is a main sequence?

A

The main sequence is the life stage of a star during which it radiates energy because of fusion of hydrogen nuclei in its core. (The main bit)

27
Q

What is a mechanical wave?

A

A vibration that travels through a substance.

28
Q

Where are microwaves on the EM spectrum?

A

Between infra-red radiation and radio waves.

29
Q

What is a moment?

A

The turning effect or force
Moment of a force (Nm) =
force (N) x perpendicular distance from the pivot (m).

30
Q

What is the motor effect?

A
  • When current is passed along a wire in a magnetic field
  • The wire isn’t parallel to the lines of the magnetic field
  • A force is exerted on the wire by the magnetic field.
31
Q

What is a neutron star?

A

The highly compressed core of a massive star that remains after a supernova explosion.

32
Q

What is Newtons first law of motion?

A

If the resultant force on an object is zero, the object stays at rest if it is stationary, or it keeps moving at a constant velocity (same speed and same direction).

33
Q

What is Newtons seccond law of motion?

A

The acceleration of an object is proportional to the resultant force on the object, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. F=ma

34
Q

What is Newtons third law of motion?

A

When two objects interact with each other, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other.

35
Q

What is an opaque object?

A

Light CANNOT pass through it.

36
Q

What is a parallelogram of forms?

A

A geometrical method used to find the resultant of two forces that do not act along the same line.

37
Q

What is a principle focus?

A

The point where light rays parallel to the principal axis of a lens are focussed (or, in the case of diverging lenses, appear to diverge from).

38
Q

What is the principle of moments?

A

For an object in equilibrium, the sum of all the clockwise moments about any point = the sum of all the anti-clockwise moments about that same point.

39
Q

What is a protostar?

A

The concentration of dust clouds and gas in space that forms a star. Think PROTOTYPE = PROTOSTAR

40
Q

Where are radio waves on the EM spectrum?

A

At the longest wavelength (Left hand side)

1m-10^4 m

41
Q

What is a red giant?

A
  • A star that has expanded and cooled (fusing helium nuclei instead of hydrogen nuclei)
  • Becomes red and much larger and cooler
42
Q

What is a red supergiant?

A

A massive star that has expanded and cooled (fusing helium nuclei instead of hydrogen nuclei).

43
Q

What is specific heat capacity?

A

The energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C

44
Q

What is specific latent heat of fusion?

A

The energy needed to melt 1 kg of a substance with no change of temperature.

45
Q

What is specific latent heat of vaporisation?

A

The energy needed to boil away 1 kg of a substance with no change of the temperature.

46
Q

What is specular reflection?

A

Reflection from a smooth surface. Each light ray is reflected in a single direction.

47
Q

What is a split-ring communicator?

A

Metal contacts on the coil of a direct current motor that connects the rotating coil continuously to its electrical power supply.

48
Q

What is a spring constant?

A

Force per unit extension of a spring.

49
Q

What is a translucent object?

A

Light PASSES through but SCATTERED or REFRACTED

50
Q

What are transverse waves?

A

A wave where the vibration is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer. The wave direction is at 90° to the oscillations. (The wiggly one)

51
Q

What are longitudinal waves?

A

Waves in which the vibrations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer. The wave direction is the same as the oscillations. eg |||| | | |||| | | |||| | | |||| | | |||| | | ||||

52
Q

What is ultrasound?

A
  • Sound waves with a frequency >20000hz.

- Above human hearing

53
Q

Where is UV light on the EM spectrum?

A

Between visible light and X-rays. 10^ -8 m

54
Q

What is a white dwarf?

A

A star that has collapsed from the red giant stage to become much smaller, hotter, and denser.

55
Q

Where are X-rays on the EM spectrum?

A

Between UV and gamma rays 10^ -8 m

56
Q

What EM waves are there?

Where on the EM spectrum do they appear?

A

EM waves (from longest to shortest wavelength)

  • Radio 1 m - 10^4 m
  • Micro 10^ -2 m
  • Infra red 10^ -5 m
  • Visible light 10^ -7 m
  • UV 10^ -8 m \
  • X-ray 10^ -10 m |> Ionising
  • Gamma rays 10^ -15 m /

Science Required Practicals and key words (2 decks)

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