Physics Notes

Acceleration:rate of change of velocity with respect to time

Ampere: The current which when flowing in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, placed one meter apart in a vacuum, would produce a force of 2×10-7 newtons per metre of length.

Amplitude: The distance top (or bottom) of a wave to the middle of the wave.

Angular Speed/Velocity: The rate of change of angle with respect to time

Anode: The positive electrode in a cell or solution.

Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus.

Becquerel:SI unit for radioactive decay/activity, Becquerel(Bq) = 1 disintegration per second.

Capacitance: The ability of a material to store electric charge.

Cathode: The negative electrode in a cell or solution. Centre of curvature

Centripetal acceleration: The acceleration towards the centre of a body moving in a circle

Centripetal force: The force towards the centre needed to need a body moving in a circle.

Chain reaction: A self-sustaining nuclear reaction, the products of which need the reaction going.

Coherent: Light is coherent if the waves are in phase or have a constant phase relationship.

Conductor: A material capable of carrying an electric charge.

Constructive interference: Crests from one source always meet the crest from another source.

Converging/convex lens: Lens capable of bring to a point a beam of light passing through it.

Coulomb: SI unit of electric charge, 1 coulomb(C) = 1 ampere per second. CoupleTwo equal and opposite parallel, but not linear forces acting on a body.

Critical angle: The minimum angle of incidence at which total internal reflection occurs.

Doping: Adding small amounts of impurity to a semiconductor to make it N or P type.Doping Adding small amounts of impurity to a semiconductor to make it N or P type. Doppler effect The apparent change in frequency of sound or radiation due to the relative motion of the source and observer. Eddy currents Induced electric currents in conductors due to changing magnetic flux. Electric field strength The force per unit charge that a positive charge would experience if placed at that point in the field. Electromagnetic induction Whenever the magnetic field passing through a coil changes this causes an electromagnetic force in the coil. Electromotive Force The energy given to each coulomb of charge as it goes through a battery or generator. Farad SI unit of capacitance, 1F = 1 coulomb across potential difference of 1 volt. Focal Length The distance for the focal point to the mirror. Force Anything that causes the velocity of an object to change. Forward bias When a diode is connected to a battery so that current flows. Frequency The number of oscillation or cycles per second. Friction The force that opposes the sliding of surfaces in contact. Fundamental frequency The lowest possible vibration of a stationary wave. Half life The time taken for half of the undecayed atoms undergo a decay in a radioactive isotope. Harmonic A wave whose vibration is a whole multiple of the fundamental frequency. Heat Energy transfer from one place to another due to a temperature difference. Hertz Measure of frequency, 1 hertz is one cycle per second. Interference The addition or combination of waves, it can be either destructive or constructive. Isotope Atoms of that same element that have different mass numbers. They have different amounts of neutrons.

Doppler effect: The apparent change in frequency of sound or radiation due to the relative motion of the source and observer.

Eddy currents: Induced electric currents in conductors due to changing magnetic flux. Electric field strength: The force per unit charge that a positive charge would experience if placed at that point in the field.

Electromagnetic induction Whenever the magnetic field passing through a coil changes this causes an electromagnetic force in the coil.

Electromotive Force: The energy given to each coulomb of charge as it goes through a battery or generator.

Farad: SI unit of capacitance, 1F = 1 coulomb across potential difference of 1 volt.

Focal Length: The distance for the focal point to the mirror.

Force: Anything that causes the velocity of an object to change.
Forward bias: When a diode is connected to a battery so that current flows.

Frequency:The number of oscillation or cycles per second.

Friction; The force that opposes the sliding of surfaces in contact.

Fundamental frequency: The lowest possible vibration of a stationary wave.

Half life:The time taken for half of the undecayed atoms undergo a decay in a radioactive isotope.

Harmonic:A wave whose vibration is a whole multiple of the fundamental frequency.

Heat Energy transfer from one place to another due to a temperature difference. Hertz Measure of frequency, 1 hertz is one cycle per second. Interference The addition or combination of waves, it can be either destructive or constructive. Isotope Atoms of that same element that have different mass numbers. They have different amounts of neutrons.