Physics Core

Question 1

the distance travelled by light in a year. Used to measure the distance of things in space

Answer 1

Light year

Question 2

the whole of space and all the objects and energy in it

Answer 2

Universe

Question 3

a group of millions of stars and planets

Answer 3

Galaxy

Question 4

The galaxy we are in

Answer 4

Milky Way

Question 5

A measure of the light emitted by a star compared to the Sun, taking into consideration how far away it is

Answer 5

Real brightness

Question 6

How bright a star appears to be

Answer 6

Relative brightness

Question 7

Makes it difficult to judge the brightness of stars

Answer 7

Light pollution

Question 8

angle between two imaginary lines from two different observation points on Earth to an object such as a star or planet, used to measure the distance to that object

Answer 8

Parallax

Question 9

explosion of a star at the end of its life

Answer 9

Supernova

Question 10

the shift of lines in a spectrum towards the red(longer wavelength) end, due to the movement of a galaxy away from us.

Answer 10

Redshift

Question 11

the theoretical beginning of the universe, when energy and matter expanded outwards from a point. Evidence for the theory is red shift and cosmic microwave radiation left over.

Answer 11

Big Bang Theory

Question 12

slow movement of continents relative to each other. Theory was put forward by Wegener

Answer 12

Continental Drift

Question 13

undersea mountain ranges formed by seafloor spreading and caused by the escape and solidification of magma where tectonic plates meet

Answer 13

Ocean Ridges

Question 14

Wegener’s evidence for continental drift

Answer 14

same fossils on different continents, same rock types on different continents, continents fit together like a puzzle

Question 15

Reasons why Wegener’s theory wasn’t accepted at the time.

Answer 15

Couldn’t detect it happening, no causal mechanism to explain it, he wasn’t respected as he wasn’t a geologist

Question 16

Why Wegener’s theory was eventually accepted

Answer 16

Sea floor spreading. Magnetic stripes on the sea floor that are produced at Ocean Ridges when lava cools and is magnetised according to the polarity of the Earth’s magnetic field at the time.

Question 17

Molten rock

Answer 17

Magma

Question 18

surface layer of the earth, made up of tectonic plates

Answer 18

Crust

Question 19

semi-liquid layer of the earth beneath the crust

Answer 19

Mantle

Question 20

vibrations that pass through the earth following an earthquake

Answer 20

Seismic Waves

Question 21

longitudinal waves following an earthhquake that can travel through the molten core of the earth; they can change direction at the boundary between different layers of the earth

Answer 21

P Waves

Question 22

transverse shock waves following an earthquake that cannot travel through the molten core of the earth

Answer 22

S Waves

Question 23

an area on the earth’s surface where no earthquake waves can be detected because s- waves cannot pass through the earth’s core and p- waves are deflected at the inner/outer core boundary

Answer 23

Shadow Zone

Question 24

a wave such as a sound wave in which the disturbances are parallel to the direction of energy transfer. Push pull waves.

Answer 24

Longitudinal

Question 25

a wave in which the disturbances are at right angles to the direction of energy transfer

Answer 25

Transverse

Question 26

the maximum disturbance of a wave motion from its undisturbed position. The height of a wave

Answer 26

Amplitude

Question 27

distance between two successive wave peaks

Answer 27

Wavelength

Question 28

the number of waves passing a set point, or emitted by a source, per second

Answer 28

Frequency

Question 29

the speed of a wave is equal to its frequency multiplied by its wavelength

Answer 29

Wave equation

Question 30

energy transferred as electromagnetic waves

Answer 30

electromagnetic radiation

Question 31

radiation that passes through a material

Answer 31

transmitted

Question 32

to take in energy from electromagnetic radiation, this is transferred to the particles of the material

Answer 32

absorb

Question 33

electromagnetic waves ordered according to wavelength and frequency- ranging from radio waves to gamma rays

Answer 33

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Question 34

The order of the electromagnetic spectrum from long wavelength to short wavelength

Answer 34

Radiowaves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-Rays, Gamma Rays

Question 35

a 'packet' of electromagnetic energy depending on the frequency of the electromagnetic wave

Answer 35

Photon

Question 36

electromagnetic radiation that has sufficient energy to ionise the material it is absorbed by

Answer 36

Ionising Radiation

Question 37

highest frequency electromagnetic radiation - most ionising

Answer 37

Gamma Rays

Question 38

electromagnetic radiation used in hospitals - slightly ionising

Answer 38

X-Rays

Question 39

electromagnetic wave similar to radio but of a higher intensity

Answer 39

Microwave

Question 40

gas found high in the atmosphere which absorbs ultraviolet rays from the sun

Answer 40

Ozone

Question 41

the trapping of infra-red radiation by gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the earth's atmosphere

Answer 41

Greenhouse effect

Question 42

the way in which carbon atoms pass between organisms and the environment through processes including respiration, photosynthesis, decomposition and combustion

Answer 42

Carbon Cycle

Question 43

the process in living things where oxygen is used to release the energy in foods releasing carbon dioxide as a waste gas

Answer 43

Respiration

Question 44

process carried out by green plants in which sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are used to produce glucose and oxyen

Answer 44

Photosynthesis

Question 45

gradual increase in the earths surface average temperature

Answer 45

Global Warming

Question 46

equipment that can display data with continuous values

Answer 46

Analogue

Question 47

transmitted information that can take only a small number of discrete values usually just 1 and 0

Answer 47

Digital

Question 48

a measure of digital data consisting of 8 binary digits

Answer 48

Byte

Question 49

a source of energy before conversion to useful energy

Answer 49

Primary Energy Source

Question 50

fuel such as coal, oil or natural gas formed millions of years ago from dead plant and animal

Answer 50

Fossil Fuel

Question 51

fuel such as wood and ethanol obtained from living plants

Answer 51

Biofuel

Question 52

a more convenient form of energy such as electricity

Answer 52

Secondary Energy Source

Question 53

a gas such as carbon dioxide that reduces the amount of infra-red radiation escaping from earth into space. contributes to global warming

Answer 53

Greenhouse gas