G482 Physics definitions (all 70 definitions!!!!)

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electric current
the net flow of charged particles per unit time through a point. unit; amperes. vector quantity
1 of 70
conventional current
a model used to describe the movement of charged particles in a circuit. positive to negative
2 of 70
electron flow
the movement of electrons (charged particles) around a circuit. negative to positive
3 of 70
electric charge
measured in coulombs, 1 coulomb being the total charge supplied by a current of 1 ampere in a time of 1 second
4 of 70
ammeter
instrument that measures electrical current
5 of 70
elementary charge
the charge on one electron is 1.6 x 10-19
6 of 70
Kirchoff I
the sum of the current flowing into a junction/point is equal to the sum of the current flowing out of the junction/point. due to conservation of charge
7 of 70
mean drift velocity
the average speed of charged particles along the length of a conductor
8 of 70
conductor
a material with a high number density of conduction electrons and therefore a low resistance
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semiconductor
a material with low number density of conduction electrons and therefore a high resistance
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insulator
a material with a number density of conduction electrons nearing 0 and therefore a very high resistance
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electromotive force
energy transferred per unit charge when a type of energy is being converted to electrical energy. work done on every unit of charge. vector quantity
12 of 70
potential difference
energy transferred per unit charge when electrical energy is converted into another form of energy. work done by every unit of charge
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voltmeter
instrument used to measure electromotive force and potential difference across components
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power
work done per unit time
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resistance
a property of a component that regulates the electrical current flowing through it. resistance is the potential difference across a component per unit current
16 of 70
Ohm's law
states that at a constant temperature, the current that flows through a component is directly proportional to the potential difference across it
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light-emitting-diodes
a component that only allows electric current flow through it in one direction and that emits light when a p.d. is applied across it
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resistivity
described property of the material rather than of the electrical component
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dynamo
device that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy
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fuse
an electrical component designed to heat up, melt and break the circuit (hence stop the current) when a specified amount of electrical current passes through it. safety device
21 of 70
kWh
unit of energy used by electrical companies when charging for electricity
22 of 70
series
a circuit in which the components are connected end-to-end and therefore there is only one path for current to flow
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parallel
a circuit in which there is more than one "loop" connected to the power supply, therefore more than one path for current to flow
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Kirchoff II
the sum of the e.m.f.'s around a loop is equal to the sum of the p.d.'s around the same loop. due to conservation of charge
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internal resistance
resistance of an e.m.f. source
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terminal p.d
this is the total p.d. across the "load" (external) resistance
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potential divider
a type of circuit containing two components designed to divide up the p.d. in proportion to the resistances of the components
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progressive waves
move through material (excluding EM), transferring energy from one position to another
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mechanical waves
waves that need a medium to travel through
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longitudinal
motion of the oscillation of particles is parallel to the direction of propagation
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transverse
motion of oscillation of particles is perpendicular to the direction of propagation
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displacement
the distance from a given point on the wave to its equilibrium/rest point
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amplitude
maximum displacement from equilibrium/rest point, measured in metres
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wavelength
the smallest distance between one point on a wave and the identical point on the next wave (i.e. peak to peak) measured in metres
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period
time taken to complete one full oscillation (from peak to peak), measured in seconds
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frequency
the number of oscillation passing a point per second, measured in Hz f = 1/T
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phase difference
the proportion of a cycle by which two waves are "out of sync", measured in radians. phase difference of two points on a wave - amount by which one oscillation leads/lags behind another
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wave speed
speed with which energy is transmitted by a wave. v= fλ or c= fλ
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intensity
rate of energy transfer per unit area at right angles to wave velocity
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reflection
when waves rebound from a barrier, changing direction but remaining in the same medium
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refraction
when waves change direction when they travel from one medium to another due to difference in wave speed in each medium
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diffraction
when a wave spreads out after passing around an obstacle or through a gap
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electromagnetic waves
a self-propagating transverse wave that does not require a medium to travel through
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polarity
a wave property that allows us to distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves
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polarisation
the process of turning an un-polarised wave into a plane polarised wave
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plane polarised
a transverse wave that only oscillates in one direction
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Malus' Law
physical law describing the change in intensity of a wave passing through a Polaroid analyser
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superposition
ability of a waves to pass through each other and temporarily occupy the same space and combine then carry on unaffected
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interference
the addition (superposition) of two or more coherent waves, resulting in a new wave formed
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coherence
two waves with a constant phase relationship over a significant period of time. coherent sources emit waves that have a constant phase relationship
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path difference
the proportion of a wavelength by which two waves are "out of sync"
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constructive interference
when two waves superpose and reinforce to give an increased amplitude
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destructive interference
two waves that superimpose and cancel out to give a reduced amplitude
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monochromatic
light of one wavelength or frequency
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stationary waves
a wave pattern produced when two progressive waves of the same frequency travelling in opposite directions superpose, and the energy is stored rather than transferred from one place to another
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antinode
point of maximum amplitude along a stationary wave caused by constructive interference
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node
a point that always has 0 amplitude along a stationary wave caused by destructive interference
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fundamental mode of vibration
the simplest stationary wave that can be set up where the length of the string is half the wavelength
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fundamental frequency
lowest frequency in harmonics series where a stationary wave forms
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harmonics
whole number multiples of the fundamental frequency of a stationary wave
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photon
a quantum packet of energy of electromagnetic radiation
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electronVolt
the energy change of an electron when it moves through a potential difference of 1 volt
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photocell
a component that reduced its resistance when light shines on it due to the photoelectric emissions of electrons
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work function
minimum energy required by a single electron to escape the metal surface
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threshold frequency
the minimum frequency required to release electrons from the surface of a metal
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de broglie
an equation expressing the wavelength of a particle as a ratio of planck's constant and the particles momentum
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spectrum
collection of waves with a range of frequencies
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emission spectra
a pattern of colours of light, each colour having a specific wavelength
69 of 70
absorption spectra
a spectrum of light with dark lines produced when light passes through a cool gas and the gas absorbs certain frequencies depending on the elements in the gas
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

a model used to describe the movement of charged particles in a circuit. positive to negative

Back

conventional current

Card 3

Front

the movement of electrons (charged particles) around a circuit. negative to positive

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

measured in coulombs, 1 coulomb being the total charge supplied by a current of 1 ampere in a time of 1 second

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

instrument that measures electrical current

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

Callum matthews

Report

really detailed thankyou.

bob truma

Report

Absolutely aweful. Ruined my exam.

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