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A level physics > Year 1 Glossary > Flashcards

Year 1 Glossary Flashcards

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1
Q

Acceleration

A

Change of velocity per unit time

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2
Q

Acceleration of free fall

A

Acceleration of an object acted only by the force of gravity

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3
Q

Accuracy

A

a measurement that is obtained, using accurately calibrated instruments correctly, is said to be accurate

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4
Q

Alpha radiation

A

Particles that each consist of two protons and two neutrons

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5
Q

Amplitude

A

The maximum displacement of a vibrating particle from equilibrium

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6
Q

Annihilation

A

When a particle and its antiparticle meet, they annihilate/destroy each other producing photons of energy

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7
Q

Antibaryon

A

A hadron consisting of three antiquarks

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8
Q

Antimatter

A

Antiparticles that each have the same rest mass and have equal and opposite charges to their corresponding particles.

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9
Q

Antinode

A

A fixed point in a stationary wave pattern where the amplitude is maximum

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10
Q

Atomic number

A

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

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11
Q

Baryon

A

A hadron consisting of three quarks

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12
Q

Base units

A

The units that define the SI system(e.g. metre, kilogram, second, ampere)

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13
Q

Beta minus radiation

A

Beta minus particles are fast moving electrons emitted by an unstable neutron-rich nuclei

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14
Q

Beta plus radiation

A

Best plus particles are fast moving positrons emitted by unstable proton-rich nuclei

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15
Q

Braking distance

A

the distance travelled by a vehicle in the time taken to stop it

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16
Q

Brittle

A

A material that snaps without stretching or bending when subjected to stress

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17
Q

Centre of mass

A

The point of a body through which a single force on the body has no turning effect

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18
Q

Charge carriers

A

Charged particles that move through a substance when a pd is applied across it

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19
Q

Kirchhoff’s 1st Law

Circuit rules for current

A
  1. The current passing through two or more components in series is the same through each component
  2. At a junction, the total current in = total current out
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20
Q

Kirchhoff’s 2nd Law

Circuit rules for PD

A
  1. For two or more components in series, the total pd across all the components is equal to the sim of the pd’s across each component
  2. The sum of the emf’s round a complete loop in a circuit = the sum of the pd’s round the loop
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21
Q

Coherent

A

Two sources of waves are coherent if they emit waves with a constant phase difference

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22
Q

Couple

A

Pair of equal and opposite forces acting on a body but not along the same line

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23
Q

Critical temperature of a superconducting material

A

the temperature at and below which the resistivity of the material is zero

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24
Q

Cycle

A

Interval for a vibrating particle from a certain displacement and velocity to the next time the particle has the same displacement and velocity

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25
Q

De Broglie hypothesis

A

Matter particles have a wave-like nature characterised by the de Broglie wavelength

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26
Q

De Broglie wavelength

A

the wavelength of a matter particle = h/p, where p is the momentum of the particle

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27
Q

De-excitation

A

Process in which an atom loses energy by photon emission, as a reslut of an electron inside an atom moving from an outer shell to an inner shell

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28
Q

Density of a substance

A

Mass per unit volume of the substance

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29
Q

Diffraction

A

Spreading of waves on passing through a gap or near an edge

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30
Q

Diffraction grating

A

A plate with many closely rules parallel slits on it

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31
Q

Dispersion

A

The splitting of a beam of white light by a glass prism into colours

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32
Q

Displacement

A

Distance in a given direction

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33
Q

Drag force

A

The force of fluid resistance on an object moving through the fluid

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34
Q

Ductile

A

A material that stretches easily without breaking

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35
Q

Efficiency

A

The ratio of useful energy transferred by a machine or device to the energy supplied to it

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36
Q

Effort

A

The force applied to a machine to make it move

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37
Q

Elastic limit

A

The point beyond which a wire permanently stretched

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38
Q

Elasticity

A

Property of a solid that enables it to regain its shape after it has been deformed or distorted

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39
Q

Electrolysis

A

Process of electrical conduction in a solution or molten compound due to opns moving to the oppositely charged electrode

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40
Q

Electrolyte

A

A solution or molten compound that conducts electricity

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41
Q

Electromagnetic radiation

A

An electric and magnetic wavepacket that can travel through free space

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42
Q

Electromotive force

A

The amount of electrical energy per unit charge produced inside a source of electrical energy

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43
Q

Electron capture

A

A process in which an inner shell electron of an atom is captured by the nucleus

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44
Q

Electron volt

A

Amount of energy equal to 1.6*10^-19J defined as the work done when an electron is moved through a pd of 1V.

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45
Q

Endoscope

A

An optical fibre device used to see inside cavities

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46
Q

Energy

A

The capacity to do work

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47
Q

Energy levels

A

The energy of an electron in an electron shell of an atom

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48
Q

Equilibrium

A

State of an object when at rest or in uniform motion

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49
Q

Error bar

A

Representation of uncertainty on a graph

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50
Q

Error of measurement

A

Uncertainty of a measurement

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51
Q

Excitation

A

The process in which an atom absorbs energy without becoming ionised as a result of an electron inside an atom moving from an inner shell to an outer shell

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52
Q

Feynman diagram

A

Representation of the interaction between particles or antiparticles or the decay of a particle or antiparticle

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53
Q

Fluorescence

A

Glow of light from a substance exposed to UV radiation, the atoms de-excite in stages and emit visible photons in the process

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54
Q

Force

A

Any interaction that can change the velocity of an object

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55
Q

Free-body force diagram

A

A diagram of an object showing only the forces acting on the object

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56
Q

Frequency

A

the number of cycles of a wave that pass a point per second

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57
Q

Friction

A

Force opposing the motion of a surface that moves or tries to move across another surface

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58
Q

Fundamental mode of vibration

A

A pattern of stationary waves on a string when it vibrates at its fundamental (lowest possible) frequency.

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59
Q

Gamma radiation

A

High energy photons emitted by unstable nuclei

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60
Q

Gravitational field strength

A

Force of gravity per unit mass on a small object

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61
Q

Ground state

A

The lowest energy state of an atom

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62
Q

Hadron

A

Particles and antiparticels that can interact through the strong interaction

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63
Q

Hooke’s law

A

The extenstion of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied up to the limit of proportionality

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64
Q

Inertia

A

Resistance of an object to change of its motion

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65
Q

Interference

A

Formation of points of cancellation and reinforcement where two coherent waves pass through each other

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66
Q

Internal resistance

A

Resistance inside a source of electrical energy, the loss of pd per unit current in the source when current passes through it

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67
Q

Ion

A

A charged atom

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68
Q

Ionisation

A

The removal of an electron from an atom

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69
Q

Ionisation energy

A

The amount of energy needed to completely remove a electron from an atom from the ground state

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70
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of an element with different number of neutrons and the same number of protons

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71
Q

Kinetic energy

A

The energy of an object due to its motion

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72
Q

Laser

A

A device that produces a parallel coherent beam of monochromatic light

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73
Q

Leptons

A

Partices that cannot interact through the strong interaction. The interact through the weak interaction, and in the case of electrons and positrons, through the electromagnetic interaction

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74
Q

Light-dependent resistor

A

A resistor which is designed to have a resistance that changes with light intensity

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75
Q

Limit of proportionality

A

The limit beyond which when a wire or spring is stretched, its extension is no longer proportional to the force applied

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76
Q

Linear

A

Two quantites have a linear relationship if the change of one quantity is proportional to the change of the other

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77
Q

Load

A

The force to be overcome by a machine when it shifts or raises an object

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78
Q

Longitudinal waves

A

Waves with a direction of vibration parallel to the direction of propagation of the waves

79
Q

Mass

A

Measure of the inertia or resistance to change of motion of an object

80
Q

Matter waves

A

The wave-like behaviour of particles of matter

81
Q

Moment

A

Force*perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the point

82
Q

Momentum

A

Mass*velocity

83
Q

Motive force

A

The force that drives a vehicle

84
Q

Multipath dispersion

A

The lengthening of a light pulse as it travels along an optical fibre, due to rays that repeatedly undergo total internal reflection having to travel a longer distance than rays that undergo less total internal reflection

85
Q

Negative temperature coefficient

A

The resistance of a semiconductor decreases when its temperature is increased

86
Q

Newton’s 1st Law

A

An object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a resultant force

87
Q

Newton’s 2nd Law for constant mass

A

The rate of change of momentum of an object is proportional to the resultant force on it
Resultant force = mass*acceleration

88
Q

Newton’s 3rd Law

A

When two objects interact, they exert equal and opposite forces on one another

89
Q

Node

A

Fixed point in a stationary wave pattern where the amplitude is zero

90
Q

Nucleon

A

A neutron or proton in the nucleus

91
Q

Nucleon number

A

The number of neutrons and protons in a nucleus

92
Q

Nuclide

A

A type of nucleus with a particular number of protons and neutrons

93
Q

Ohm’s Law

A

The pd across a metallic conductor is proportional to the current provided the physical conditions do not change

94
Q

Optical fibre

A

A thin flexible transparent fibre used to carry light pulses from one end to the other

95
Q

Pair production

A

When a gamma photon changes into a particle and antiparticle

96
Q

Pascal

A

Unit of pressure or stress equal to 1 N/m

97
Q

Path difference

A

The difference in distances betweem two coherent sources to an interference fringe

98
Q

Period of a wave

A

Time for one complete cycle of a wave to pass a point

99
Q

Phase difference

A

The fraction of a cycle between the vibrations of two vibrating particles measured either in radians or degrees

100
Q

Photoelectricity

A

Emissionof electrons from a metal surface when the surface is illuminated by light of frequency greater than the threshold frequency

101
Q

Photon

A

Packet or ‘quantum’ of electromagnetic waves

102
Q

Plane- polarised waves

A

Transverse waves that vibrate in one plane only

103
Q

Plastic deformation

A

Deformation of a solid beyond its elastic limit

104
Q

Positive temperature coefficient

A

The resistance of a metal increases when its temperature is increased

105
Q

Potential difference

A

Work done or energy transfer per unit change between two points when charge moves from one point to the other

106
Q

Potential divider

A

Two or more resistors in series connected to a source of pd

107
Q

Potential energy

A

The energy of an object due to its position

108
Q

Power

A

The rate of transfer of energy= energy transferred /time taken

109
Q

Precision of a measurement

A

The degree of exactness of a measurement, usually expressed as the uncertainty of the readings used to obtain a measurement

110
Q

Precision of an instrument

A

The smallest non zero reading that can be measured also sometimes referred to as the instrument sensitivity or resolution

111
Q

Pressure

A

Force per unit area acting on a ssurface perpendicular to the surface

112
Q

Principle of conservation of energy

A

Energy cannot be destroyed or created

113
Q

Principle of moments

A

For an object in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments about any point = the sum of the anticlockwise momens about that point

114
Q

Probable error

A

Estimate of the uncertainty of a measurement

115
Q

Progressive waves

A

Waves which travel through a substance or through space if electromagnetic

116
Q

Projectile

A

A projected object in motion acted on only by the force of gravity

117
Q

Radian

A

A measure of an angle defined such that 2pi radians = 360

118
Q

Random error

A

Error of measurement due to readings that vary randomly with no recognisable patter or trend or bias

119
Q

Range of a set of readings

A

The difference between the maximum and the minimum reading

120
Q

Range of an instrument

A

The difference between the maximum and the minimum reading that can be obtain using the instrument

121
Q

Refraction

A

Change of direction of a wave when it crosses a boundary where its speed changes

122
Q

Refractive index

A

Speed of light in free space/ speed of light in the substance

123
Q

Resistance

A

PD/current

124
Q

Resistivity

A

resistance per unit length * area of cross section

125
Q

Rest energy

A

energy due to rest mass, equal to mc^2, where c is the speed of light in free space

126
Q

Scalar

A

A physical quantity with magnitude only

127
Q

Semiconductor

A

A substance in which the number of charge carriers increases when the temperature is increased

128
Q

Sensitivity of an instrument

A

The output reading per unit input quantity

129
Q

Specific charge

A

charge/mass value of a charged particle

130
Q

Spectrometer

A

Instrument used to measure light wavelengths very accurately

131
Q

Speed

A

Change of distance per unit time

132
Q

Stationary waves

A

Wave pattern with nodes and antinodes formed when two or more progressive waves of the same frequency and amplitude pass through each other

133
Q

Stiffness constant

A

The force per unit extension needed to extend a wire or spring

134
Q

Stopping distance

A

Thinking distance + braking distance

135
Q

Strain

A

Extension per unit length of a solid when deformed

136
Q

Stress

A

Force per unit of cross-sectional area in a solid perpendicular to the cross section

137
Q

Strong interaction

A

Interaction between two hadrons

138
Q

Strong nuclear force

A

Attractive force between nucleons that holds the nucleons in the nucleus

139
Q

Superconductor

A

A material that has zero electrical resistance

140
Q

Superposition

A

The effect of two waves adding together when they meet

141
Q

Systematic error

A

Error of measurement due to readings that systematically differ from the true reading and follow a pattern or trend or bias

142
Q

Terminal speed

A

The maximum speed reached by an object when the drag force is equal and opposite to the force causing the motion of the object

143
Q

Thermistor

A

A resistor which is designed to have a resistance that changes with temperature

144
Q

Thinking distance

A

The distance travelled by a vehicle in the time it takes the driver to react

145
Q

Threshold frequency

A

The minimum frequency of light that can cause photoelectric emission

146
Q

Torque of a couple

A

Force*perpendicular distance between the lines of action of the forces

147
Q

Total internal reflection

A

A light ray travelling in a substance is totally internally reflection at a boundary with a substance of lower refractive index, if the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

148
Q

Transverse waves

A

Waves with a direction of vibration perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the waves

149
Q

Continuous spectrum

A

Continuous range of colours corresponding to a continuous range of wavelengths

150
Q

Line emission spectrum

A

Characteristic coloured vertical lines each corresponding to a certain wavelength

151
Q

Line absorption spectrum

A

Dark vertical lines against a continuous range of colours, each line corresponding to a certain wavelength

152
Q

Ultimate tensile stress

A

Tensile stress needed to break a solid material

153
Q

Uncertainty

A

Half the range of the readings used to obtain the measurement

154
Q

Useful energy

A

Energy transferred to where it is wanted and when it is wanted

155
Q

Uniform circular motion

A

Motion of an object moving at a constant speed along a circular path

156
Q

Vector

A

A physical quantity with magnitude and direction

157
Q

Velocity

A

Change of displacement per unit time

158
Q

Virtual photon

A

Carrier of the electromagnetic force, a photon exchanged between two charged particles when they interact

159
Q

W boson

A

Carrier of the weak nuclear force, W bosons have non zero rest mass and may be positive or negative

160
Q

Wave particle duality

A

Matter particles have a wave-like nature as well as a particle-like nature; photons have a particle-like nature as well as a wave-like nature

161
Q

Wavefront

A

Lines of constant phase

162
Q

Wavelength

A

The least distance between two adjacent vibrating particles with the same displacement and velocity at the same time

163
Q

Weak interaction

A

Interaction between two leptons

164
Q

Weak nuclear force

A

The force responsible for beta decay

165
Q

Weight

A

The force of gravity acting on an object

166
Q

Work

A

Energy transferred by means of a force

Work= force * distance moved in the direction of the force

167
Q

Work function

A

The minimum amount of energy needed by an electron to escape from a metal surface

168
Q

Yield point

A

A point at which the stress in a wire suddenly drops when the wire is subjected to increased strain

169
Q

Young’s fringes

A

Parallel bright and dark fringes observed when light from a narrow slit passes through two closely spaced slits

170
Q

Young’s Modulus

A

tensile stress/strain
(assuming the limit of proportionality has not been exceeded)
measured in Pa

171
Q

Angular displacement

A

The angle an object in circular motion turns through

172
Q

Angular speed

A

The rate of change of angular displacement of an object in circular motion

173
Q

Angular frequency

A

For an object oscillating at frequency f in simple harmonic motion, its angular frequency = 2pi * f

174
Q

Centripetal acceleration

A

The acceleration of an object moving at speed v in uniform circular motion with the acceleration towards the center of the circle

175
Q

Centripetal force

A

The resultant force on an object that moves along a circular path

176
Q

Conservation of momentum

A

For a system of interacting objects, the total momentum of the objects remains constant provided no external resultant force acts on the system

177
Q

Critical angle

A

The angle that must be exceeded by the angle of incidence for total internal reflection to occur

178
Q

Damped oscillations

A

Oscillations that reduce in amplitude die to the presence of resistive forces such as friction and drag

179
Q

Lightly damped system

A

the amplitude of the oscillations decreases gradually

180
Q

Heavily damped system

A

A system that slowly returns to equilibrium without oscillating after being released from its displacement

181
Q

Critically damped system

A

The system returns to equilibrium in the least possible time without oscillating

182
Q

Forced vibrations

A

Vibrations of a system subjected to an external periodic force

183
Q

Free electrons

A

Electrons in a conductor that move about freely inside the metal because they are not attached to a particular atom

184
Q

Free vibrations

A

Vibrations where there is no damping and no periodic force acting on the system, so the amplitude of the oscillations is constant

185
Q

Gold leaf electroscope

A

A device used to detect electric charge

186
Q

Impulse

A

Force*time for which the force acts

187
Q

Natural frequency

A

The frequency of free oscillations of an oscillating system

188
Q

Principle of conservation of momentum

A

When two or more bodies interact, the total momentum is unchanged, provided no external forces act on the bodies

189
Q

Principle of conservation of energy

A

In any change, the total amount of energy after the change is always equal to the total amount of energy before the change

190
Q

Resonance

A

The amplitude of vibration of an oscillating system subjected to a periodic force is largest when the periodic force has the same frequency as the resonant frequency on the system.

191
Q

Resonant frequency

A

The frequency of an oscillating system in resonance

192
Q

Simple harmonic motion

A

Motion of an object if its acceleration is proportional to the displacement of the object from equilibrium and is always directed towards the equilibrium position

193
Q

Sinusoidal curves

A

Any curve with the same shape as a sine wave

A level physics (15 decks)

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