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Physics A-Level :( > Definitions - AS Paper 1 > Flashcards

Definitions - AS Paper 1 Flashcards

(88 cards)

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1
Q
A
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2
Q

Electromotive force

A

The amount of energy transferred per unit charge passing through the source

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3
Q

Internal resistance

A

The resistance to the flow of charge within a source. Results in energy being dissipated within the source.

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4
Q

Light Dependant Resistor

A

A light sensitive semiconductor whose resistance increases when light intensity decreases.

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5
Q

Ohmic conductor

A

A conductor for which the current flow is directly proportional to the potential difference across it (when conditions are constant)

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6
Q

Ohms Law

A

The current and potential difference through an ohmic conductor (in constant physical conditions) are directly proportional, with the constant of proportionality being resistance.

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7
Q

Potential Divider

A

A method of splitting a potential difference, by connecting two resistors in series. Total potential differences is split in the ratio of their resistances.

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8
Q

Resistivity

A

A quantity that is proportional to an objects resistance and cross sectional area, and inversely proportional to the objects length.

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9
Q

Superconductor

A

A material that has zero resistivity when the temperature is decreased to, or below, the materials critical temperature. Superconductors can be used produce strong magnetic fields and reduce energy loss when transmitting electric power.

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10
Q

Terminal potential difference

A

The potential difference across the terminals of a power source. It is equal to the sources Emf minus any voltage drop over the source’s internal resistance.

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11
Q

Thermistor

A

A temperature sensitive semiconductor whose resistance increases when temperature decreases.

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12
Q

Ideal voltmeter resistance

A

Infinite resistance

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13
Q

Ideal ammeter resistance

A

Zero resistance

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14
Q

Accuracy

A

A measure of how close a measurement is to the true value

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15
Q

Precision

A

A measure of how close a measurement is to the mean value. Only gives an indication of the magnitude of random errors, not how accurate it is (near true value)

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16
Q

Random error

A

Unpredictable variation between measurements leading to a spread of values around the true value. Can reduce this by taking repeat measurements.

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17
Q

Systematic error

A

Causes all reading to differ from the true value by a fixed amount. Can’t be corrected by repeat readings, instead use a different technique and/ or apparatus.

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18
Q

Repeatable

A

The same experimenter can repeat a measurement with the same method and equipment and get the same value

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19
Q

Reproducible

A

A different experimenter can use different equipment and method and still obtain the same results.

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20
Q

Resolution

A

The smallest change in a quantity that causes a visible change in the reading that the measuring instrument can record.

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21
Q

Uncertainty

A

The interval that a value is said to lie within, with a given level of confidence.

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22
Q

Alpha decay

A

The process of an unstable nucleus emitting an alpha particle (a helium nucleus, two protons and two neutrons) to become more stable.

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23
Q

Annihilation

A

The process of a particle and its antiparticle colliding and being converted into energy. The energy is released as two photons to conserve momentum.

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24
Q

Baryon

A

A class of hadron containing three quarks, can react via the strong interaction. The proton is the only stable baryon.

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25
Beta minus decay
the process of a neutron in the nucleus turning into a proton, releasing an electron and a antineutrino
26
Beta plus
the process of a proton in the nucleus turning into a neutron, releasing an positron and a neutrino
27
Electron Diffraction
The spreading of electrons as through a gap similar to the magnitude of their de Broglie wavelength. Shows the wave properties of particles
28
Energy levels
Defined and distinct energies at which electrons can exist in a atom. An electron cant exist between energy levels.
29
Excitation
The process of an electron taking in exactly the right quantity of energy to move up an energy level
30
Ground state
The most stable energy level that an electron can exist in.
31
hadrons
A class of subatomic particles that experience the strong nuclear force
32
Ionisation
The process of an atom losing an orbital electron and becoming charged.
33
Kaon
A type of meson that decays into pions
34
Lepton
A group of elementary subatomic particle, consisting of electrons, muons and neutrinos
35
Meson
A class of hadron, contain 2 quarks (a quark and an antiquark)
36
Muon
A type of lepton that decays into electrons
37
Neutrino
A subatomic particle whose existence was hypothesised to maintain the conservation of energy in beta decay.
38
Pair production
The process of a sufficiently high energy photon spontaneously converting into a particle and its antiparticle pair. To conserve momentum this usually occurs near a nucleus.
39
Pion
A type of meson and the exchange particle for the strong nuclear force
40
Stopping potential
The minimum potential difference required to stop the highest kinetic energy electrons from leaving the metal plate in the photoelectric effect.
41
Strange Particles
Particles that are produces via the strong nuclear force but decay via the weak interaction
42
Strong nuclear force
A force that acts nucleons to stop the nucleus collapsing in on itself. It is attractive until about 3fm and repulsive below 0.5fm
43
Threshold frequency
The minimum frequency of photons required for photoelectrons to be emitted from the surface of the metal plate in the photoelectric effect
44
Work function
The minimum energy required to remove an electron from a metal's surface
45
Antinode
A position of maximum displacement on a stationary wave
46
Cladding
A protective layer on an optical fibre to increase the tensile strength of the fibre, prevent scratching and to prevent signal transfer between adjacent fibres.
47
Coherance
Waves are coherent if they have the same wavelength and frequency, with a fixed phase difference between the,
48
Diffraction grating
A grating with hundreds of slits per millimetre, that results in sharper interference patterns. Used to calculate atomic spacing and analyse elements.
49
Difraction
The spreading of waves as they pass through a gap of similar magnitude to their wavelength
50
Electromagnetic waves
Waves that consist of perpendicular electric and magnetic oscillations.
51
Frequency
The number of waves that pass a point in a unit time period. It is the inverse of the time period.
52
Interference
The name given to the superposition of waves that occurs when two waves meet, if the waves are in phase they will constructively interfere, but if they are out of phase they will destructively interfere
53
Laser
A light source that produces a collimated and coherent beam
54
Longitudinal wave
A wave with oscillations that are parallel to the direction of energy transfer. (e.g sound waves)
55
Material dispersion
Waves of different wavelengths travel at slightly different speeds through an optical fibre so reach the end at slightly different times, called pulse broadening. The use of monochromatic light fixes this.
56
Modal dispersion
Waves enter an optical fibre at slightly different angles, so the distance each beam has to travel is different leading to the beams reaching the end of the fibre at slightly different times (pulse broadening)
57
Node
A position of minimum displacement on a stationary wave
58
Optical fibre
A thin glass fibre through which signals are passes through, usually have cladding surrounding them.
59
Path diffrence
A measure of how far ahead a wave is compared to another wave, usually expressed in terms of the wavelength
60
Phase difference
The difference in phase between two points of a wave. (usually in radians)
61
Phase
A measure of how far through the wave’s cycle a given point on the wave is.
62
Polarisation
The restriction of a wave so it can only oscillate in a single plane. (Only for transverse waves)
63
Pulse broadening
The elongation of a signal passed down an optical fibre, commonly due to modal or material dispersion
64
Refractive index
A material property that is equal to the ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum and the speed of light in a given material
65
Snell's Law
A law linking a waves angle of incidence to its angle of refraction, using the refractive indexes of the mediums involved
66
Stationary wave
A wave that stores, but does not transfer, energy
67
Total internal reflection
An effect that occurs in optical fibres, where full reflection occurs at the inside boundary of the fibre, so no radiation passes out.
68
Transverse wave
A wave where the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer (e.g EM waves)
69
Hooke's law
The extension of an elastic object is directly proportional to the force applied to it, up until the limit of proportionality
70
Impulse
The change in momentum when a force acts on it.
71
Inelastic collision
A collision in which total kinetic energy before a collision does not equal the total energy after a collision.
72
Newtons First law
An object will remain in its current state of motion, unless acted upon by a resultant force. An object needs a resultant force to accelerate
73
Newtons Second Law
Sum of forces acting on an object is the same as the rate of change of momentum (F=ma)
74
Newtons Third Law
Every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction. If a object exerts a force on an object, that object exerts an equal force back on that object
75
Plastic Behavior
If a material deforms with plastic behaviour, it will not return to its original shape when the forces deforming the object are removed (permanently deformed)
76
Spring constant
The constant of proportionality for the extension of a spring under a force. Higher spring constants mean you need more force to achieve a greater extension.
77
Stiffness
A measure of how hard it is to stretch an object
78
Tensile strain
Ratio of an objects extension to its original length
79
Breaking stress
Maximum stress an object can experience before breaking occurs
80
Brittle
A brittle object will show very little strain before reaching its breaking stress.
81
Centre of mass
The point in an object where the line of action of a force has no turning effect.
82
Couple
Two equal and opposite parallel forces through different lines of action. Has the effect of rotation without translation
83
Elastic behavior
If a material deforms with elastic behaviour once the forces causing the deformation are removed the object will return to its original length and shape
84
Elastic collision
A collision in which the total energy before a collision equals the total energy after a collision
85
Elastic limit
The force beyond which an object will no longer deform elastically, and instead deform plastically. Beyond the elastic limit, when the deforming forces are removed, the object will not return to its original shape.
86
Elastic strain energy
The energy stored in an object when it is stretched. It equals the work done to stretch the object and can be determined from the area under a force-extension graph.
87
Equlibrium
For an object to be at equilibrium, both the resultant force and the resultant moment acting on an object must be zero
88
Terminal speed
The maximum speed of an object that occurs when the resistive and driving forces acting on an object are equal to each other

Physics A-Level :( (9 decks)

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