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OCR A Physics AS defintions
Defintion of all the terms you need to know
54
Physics
12th Grade
04/18/2014

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Term
Absorption line spectrum
Definition
A dark line of a unique wavelength seen in a continuous spectrum. This is caused by white light passing through a pure sample of a gaseous element. The electrons absorb photons with specific wavelengths/energies relative to the energy levels they can reach.
Term
Acceleration
Definition
The rate of change of an object's velocity.
Term
Average speed
Definition
The total distance travelled by an object divided by the total time taken.
Term
Braking distance
Definition
The distance travelled by a vehicle once the brakes are applied until it comes to a stop. Braking distance is affected by friction (brakes, tyres and road) and the motion of the object.
Term
Brittle
Definition
A material that shows none or little plastic deformation before breaking
Term
Centre of gravity
Definition
The point where the entire weight of an object appears to act from. Essential for solving moment questions.
Term
Components of a vector
Definition
A vector can be separated into two vectors. One in the horizontal direction and one in the vertical direction.
Term
Compressive
Definition
A force that sqeezes an object
Term
Density
Definition
The mass per unit volume of a substance.
Term
Displacement
Definition
The distance travelled in a particular direction from the origin
Term
Ductile
Definition
Describes a matereal which shows significant plastic deformation. Can be easily shaped.
Term
Efficiency
Definition
The ratio of useful energy out to enrgy put in.
Term
Elastic
Definition
Describes a material which returns to its original shape when the force is removed.
Term
Elastic limit
Definition
The amount of stress/force beyond which an object will not return to its original shape.
Term
Elastic potential energy
Definition
Energy stored in a streched or compressed object
Term
Electronvolt
Definition
A unit used for very small amounts of energy. The energy gained by an electron accelerated through a potential difference of 1 Volt
Term
Emission line spectrum
Definition
A bright line of a unique wavelength/energy emitted by a substance when the electrons fall from a high energy level to a lower energy level.
Term
Equilibrium
Definition
An object with a constant velocity(stationary or moving in a straight line at a constant speeed) or angular velocity (in moments)
Term
Extension
Definition
The change in length of a material from its original length.
Term
Force or spring constant
Definition
The ratio of force to extension for a spring or wire.
Term
Gravitational potential energy
Definition
Energy stored by an object due to its position in the a gravitational field.
Term
Ground state
Definition
The lowest energy level an electron can occupy in an atom.
Term
Hooke's law
Definition
Force is proprtional to extension for an elastic material
Term
Inertia
Definition
A measure of the mass of an object. How hard it is to change the motion of an object.
Term
Instantaneous speed
Definition
The speed of an object measured over a very small period of time
Term
Kinetic energy
Definition
Energy of an object due to its motion
Term
Mass
Definition
The amount of material within an object
Term
Moment
Definition
The truning effect caused by a force on a pivotted object. Force multiplied by perpendicular distance between force and pivot
Term
Newton
Definition
The force that will give 1 kg an acceleration of 1m/s2.
Term
Photon
Definition
A particle which represents an electromagentic wave.
Term
Plastic deformation
Definition
A material will not return to its original shape when the force is removed.
Term
Power
Definition
The rate at which work is done
Term
Principle of moments
Definition
The sum of clockwise moments about a point is equal to the sum of the anti clockwise moets about the same point leasding to an object being in equilibrium
Term
Resultant force
Definition
The net force acting on an object
Term
Scalar
Definition
A quantity with size/magnitude only.
Term
Speed
Definition
Rate of change of the distance moved by an object
Term
Stopping distance
Definition
The sum of think and braking distance
Term
strain
Definition
The extension per unit length produced by a tensile or compressive froce
Term
stress
Definition
Force acting per unit cross sectional area on a material
Term
Tensile
Definition
A term used to denote tension or pull
Term
Terminal velocity
Definition
The constant velocity of an object flowing through a fluid (gas or liquid). The net force on the object is zero.
Term
Thinking distance
Definition
THe distance travelled whilst the driver reacts to a situation where they are meant to stop.
Term
Threshold frequency
Definition
The minimum frequency of the electromagnetic radiation that will eject electrons from the surface of a metal.
Term
Threshold voltage
Definition
The minimum forward bias voltage across a light emitting diode (LED) when it starts to conduct and emit light.
Term
Torque
Definition
The product of two forces in opposites direction, an equal distance from the pivot.
Term
Transition
Definition
When an electron moves from one energy level to another
Term
Ultimate tensile force
Definition
The breaking stress of a material
Term
Vector
Definition
A quantity that has size and direction
Term
Vector addition
Definition
Using a scale drawing to combine vectors to find the resultant vector
Term
Velocity
Definition
The rate of change of the displacement of an object
Term
Weight
Definition
The force on a mass caused by a gravitational field
Term
Work done
Definition
The amount of energy transformed in a situation
Term
Work function
Definition
THe minimum energy required by a single electron to escape from the surface of a metal
Term
Youngs modulus
Definition
Ratio of stress to strain. Describes the stiffness of a material.
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