Glossary Flashcards

1
Q

Absolute Uncertainty

A

A measurement showing how large the uncertainty actually is with the same units as the measured quantity.

A measurement of 25.4cm +- 0.1cm has an absolute uncertainty of 0.1cm

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2
Q

Acceleration of free fall (g)

A

The acceleration of a body falling under gravity. On Earth this value is 9.81ms^-2

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3
Q

Acceleration

A

The rate of change of velocity (is a vector) [ms^-2]

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4
Q

Accuracy

A

The degree to which a value obtained by an experiment is close to the actual or true value

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5
Q

Ammeter

A

A device used to measure electric current, connect in series

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6
Q

Ampere

A

S.I Unit of current (Commonly referred to as amps)

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7
Q

Amplitude

A

The maximum displacement of a wave from it’s mean (rest) position [m]

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8
Q

Anomalous

A

Values in a set of data that do not fit the overall trend and so are judged to not be part of the inherent variation

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9
Q

Antinode

A

A point on a stationary wave where the particles vary by the maximum amount

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10
Q

Archimedes Principle

A

The upward buoyant force (upthrust) exerted on an object immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces

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11
Q

Area

A

A physical quantity representing the size of a surface [m^2]

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12
Q

Braking Distance

A

The distance a vehicle travels while decelerating to a stop

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13
Q

Brittle

A

A material that brakes with little or no plastic deformation

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14
Q

Centre of Gravity

A

The point at which the entire weight of an object can be considered to act

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15
Q

Centre of Mass

A

The single point at which all of the mass of the object can be assumed to be situated. For a symmetrical body of constant density, this will be at the centre of the object

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16
Q

Closed System

A

Any system in which all the energy transfers are accounted for; energy or matter cannot leave

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17
Q

Coherence

A

Two waves with a constant phase relationship

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18
Q

Components of a Vector

A

The results from resolving a single vector into it’s horizontal and vertical parts

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19
Q

Components

A

Parts of electric circuits

20
Q

Compressive Force

A

Two or more forces that have the effect of reducing the volume of the object on which they are acting, or reducing the length of a spring

21
Q

Conductor

A

A material with a high density of conduction electrons and therefore a low resistance

22
Q

Conservation of Charge

A

Physical Law stating charge is conserved in all interactions; it cannot be created or destroyed

23
Q

Conservation of Energy

A

Physical Law stating that energy cannot be create or destroyed; just transformed from one from into another or transferred from one place to another. This is the situation in a closed system

24
Q

Conventional Current

A

A model used to describe the movement of charge from positive to negative

25
Q

Coulomb

A

Unit of electric charge [C]

26
Q

Couple

A

Two forces that are opposite and equal but not on the same straight line

27
Q

De Broglie Equation

A

An equation expressing the wavelength of a particle as a ratio of Planck’s constant and the particles momentum

28
Q

Deformation

A

The change in shape or size of an object; if it returns to it’s original shape it is elastic

29
Q

Celsius

A

Unit for temperature (NOT the S.I unit)

30
Q

Density

A

Mass per unit volume [kgm^-3]

31
Q

Diffraction

A

When a wave spreads out after passing around an obstacle or through a gap

32
Q

Displacement

A

The distance travelled in a particular direction (vector) [m]

33
Q

Distance

A

How far one point is from another [m] (kinda dodgy)

34
Q

Drag Coefficient

A

A characteristic that determines the amount of drag that acts on an object

35
Q

Drag

A

The resistive force that acts on a body when it moves through a fluid

36
Q

Drift velocity

A

The average velocity of an electron as it travels through a wire

37
Q

Ductile

A

Can be drawn into wires and shows plastic deformation under tensile stress before breaking

38
Q

Efficiency

A

The ratio of useful output energy to total input energy

39
Q

Elastic Deformation

A

The object will return to its original shape when the deforming force is removed

40
Q

Elastic Limit

A

The point at which elastic deformation becomes plastic deformation

41
Q

Elastic Potential Energy

A

The energy stored in a stretched or compressed object [J]

42
Q

Elasticity

A

The property of a body to resume its original shape or size once the deforming force or stress has been removed

43
Q

Electric Charge

A

{A physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field} [C]

44
Q

Electric Current

A

The flow of charge

45
Q

Electrolyte

A

A fluid that contains ions that are free to move and hence conduct electricity

46
Q

Electromagnetic wave

A

A self propagating transverse wave that does not require a medium to travel through

47
Q

Electromotive Force (E.M.F)

A

The energy gained