Definitions

Question 1

Scientific Notation

Answer 1

The way scientists easily handle every large number/small number

Question 2

Directly proportional

Answer 2

The rate of increase/decrease in one variable is the same as the rate of increase/decrease in the other variable

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

The answer to the investigative question/what you are trying to find out

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

Your prediction of the outcome of your investigation

Question 5

Independent variable

Answer 5

Variable that you change/what you are testing/the variable against what you measure

Question 6

Dependent variable

Answer 6

Variable that changes as a result of the changes you make. Usually what you measure

Question 7

Controlled variable

Answer 7

All other variables and conditions that are kept the same

Question 8

Observation

Answer 8

A change that can be seen, heard, felt, tasted/smelt

Question 9

Vector quantity

Answer 9

A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction

Question 10

Scalar quantity

Answer 10

A physical quantity that has magnitude only

Question 11

Bearing

Answer 11

Given as an angle from 0° to 360° and is the angle clockwise from North

Question 12

Resultant Vectors

Answer 12

A single vector that has the same effect as two/more acting together

Question 13

Position

Answer 13

The place where an object is located (vector)

Question 14

Distance

Answer 14

The length of the path travelled (scalar)

Question 15

Displacement

Answer 15

A change in position (vector)

Question 16

Average speed

Answer 16

The rate of change of distance (scalar)

Question 17

Instantaneous speed

Answer 17

The speed at which an object moves at a particular moment in time

Question 18

Average velocity

Answer 18

The rate of change of position/displacement (vector)

Question 19

Instantaneous velocity

Answer 19

The velocity at which an object moves at a particular moment in time

Question 20

Acceleration

Answer 20

Defined as the rate of change of velocity/change in velocity per unit time

Question 21

Linear Motion

Answer 21

Motion in a straight line on a level surface

Question 22

Energy

Answer 22

The capacity to do work

Question 23

Mechanical energy

Answer 23

The sum of gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy possessed by a body

Question 24

Gravitational potential energy

Answer 24

Energy that an object possesses due to its position relative to a reference point (ground/earth)

Question 25

Kinetic energy

Answer 25

Energy possessed by an object as a result of the objects motion

Question 26

The atomic number

Answer 26

Defines the elements and is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus

Question 27

The mass number

Answer 27

The sum of the number of protons plus the number of neutrons in an atom (that is, number of nucleons)

Question 28

Isotopes

Answer 28

Atoms of the same element, that is with the same number of protons, having different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus

Question 29

Relative atomic mass

Answer 29

The average mass of an atom of the element on a scale where the carbon-12 atom has a mass of 12 units (on a scale where one unit is 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom)

Question 30

Orbital

Answer 30

A region within an energy level which can contain one/two electrons

Question 31

Valence electrons

Answer 31

Electrons in the outermost (highest) energy level

Question 32

Ion

Answer 32

A small charged particle. May consist of one atom only (simple ion) or more than one atom joined together (polyatomic ion)

Question 33

Anion

Answer 33

When an atom gains one or more electrons, forming a negative ion

Question 34

Cation

Answer 34

When an atom loses one or more electrons, forming a positive ion.