physics glossary

Question 1

Lowest temperature theoretically possible

Answer 1

Absolute zero

Question 2

Measure of how fast velocity is changing, so we can think of it as the change in velocity over change in time. The most common use of acceleration is acceleration due to gravity, which can also appear as the gravitational constant (9.8 m/s2).

Answer 2

acceleration

Question 3

Transmitting light without decomposing it into its constituent colours

Answer 3

Achromatic

Question 4

The measure of how easy it is to tranfer sound through a particular medium

Answer 4

Acustic Impedance

Question 5

The process through expansion or contraction where no thermal energy is allowed to flow into a system

Answer 5

Adiabatic

Question 6

The drag force exerted on an object as it moves through the atmosphere

Answer 6

Air resistance

Question 7

double ionized helium atom

Answer 7

Alpha particle

Question 8

Maximum displacement from original point on a wave

Answer 8

Amplitide

Question 9

Salt having no water of crystalization

Answer 9

Anhydrous crystal

Question 10

Tiny opening through which radiation may pass

Answer 10

Aperture

Question 11

The point in the orbit of the moon or an artificial satellite around the earth at which the body is furthest from the earth

Answer 11

Apogee

Question 12

Receptors that respond to changes in pressure

Answer 12

Baro Receptor

Question 13

A negative or positive electron associated with radioactive decay

Answer 13

Beta particle

Question 14

The energy required to raise the temperature of 1 atom or molecule by 1 Kelvin

Answer 14

Boltzman constant

Question 15

A nuclear reactor in which more fissile material is produced than which is consumed

Answer 15

Breeder reactor

Question 16

the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

Answer 16

British Thermal Unit (BTU)

Question 17

The random moving of particles suspended in a fluid (a liquid or a gas) resulting from their bombardment by the fast-moving atoms or molecules in the gas or liquid

Answer 17

Brownian motion

Question 18

Force acting away from the centre of a cirlce

Answer 18

Centrifugal force

Question 19

Force acting towards the centre of a circle

Answer 19

Centripetal Force

Question 20

Increase in area of a metal for each increase in temperature

Answer 20

Coefficience of area expansion

Question 21

Travelling waves that are always in phase

Answer 21

Coherent wave

Question 22

the change of the physical state of matter from the gas phase into the liquid phase

Answer 22

Condensation

Question 23

A formation of stars perceived as a figure or design

Answer 23

Constellation

Question 24

forces whose lines of action are in the same plane

Answer 24

co-plainer

Question 25

Body of highly ionized gas that surrounds the sun

Answer 25

Corona

Question 26

Two equal and opposite force

Answer 26

Couple

Question 27

Smallest possible amount of fission material that will sustain a chain reaction

Answer 27

Critical mass

Question 28

Temperature above which it is impossible to compress a gas into a liquid

Answer 28

Critical Temperature

Question 29

the study of the production of very low temperature (below −150 °C, −238 °F or 123 K) and the behavior of materials at those temperatures

Answer 29

Cryogenics

Question 30

The study of very low temperature

Answer 30

Cryology

Question 31

The reduction in the amplitude of a wave due to the displacement of the wave energy

Answer 31

Damping

Question 32

Bending of a wave around an opaque object

Answer 32

Defraction

Question 33

Measurement equals to half the measurment of reading

Answer 33

Degree of uncertaincy

Question 34

Separation of radiation according to frequency

Answer 34

Dispersion

Question 35

Resistive force exerted on a body moving through space

Answer 35

Drag

Question 36

Electrons entering at one end of the metal cause the similar number of electrons to be diosplaced from the other end and the metal conducts even though they are conducted along its path

Answer 36

Drift Velocity

Question 37

Biological sonar used by animals to locate objects producing sound and listenin to the echo to locate objects around it in its environment

Answer 37

Echo location

Question 38

An electric current induced by an altenating magnetic field which causes heating in the material

Answer 38

Eddy Current

Question 39

the ratio of the force produced by a machine to the force applied to it

Answer 39

Efficiency/Mechanical Advantage

Question 40

Crystal that looses its water of crystalisation when exposed to air

Answer 40

Effloresce

Question 41

Mechanical force used to operate a machine

Answer 41

Effort

Question 42

Generation of voltage across a conductor when it moves through a magnetic field

Answer 42

Electro magnetic Induction

Question 43

Energy acquired by an electron as a result of moving through a potential difference of one volt

Answer 43

Electron volt

Question 44

Spectra produced by exciting gaseous atoms or molecules

Answer 44

Emission Spectra

Question 45

Level of disorder in a system

Answer 45

Entropy

Question 46

depicts the state in which during activity a body does not change movement, shape or composition

Answer 46

Equilibrium

Question 47

Point at which a gas cannot be liquified due to an increase in pressure

Answer 47

Eutectic point

Question 48

mechanism by which certain materials (such as iron) form permanent magnets

Answer 48

Ferromagnetism

Question 49

The distance between the optical centre of a lens and the prinicipal focus

Answer 49

Focal Length

Question 50

Downward motion of an object where the only external force acting on it is gravity

Answer 50

Free fall

Question 51

Force which oppose movement between two bodies in contact

Answer 51

Friction

Question 52

Point about which two force rotate

Answer 52

Fulcrum/Pivot

Question 53

Collection of stars held together by gravity

Answer 53

Galaxy

Question 54

Type of electromagnetic radiation emmited as a result of radioactive decay

Answer 54

Gamma Radiation

Question 55

High frequency electromagnetic radiation that is high enrgy photons

Answer 55

Gamma rays

Question 56

The downward force acting on a body due to its weight

Answer 56

Gravity

Question 57

The time taken for a radioactive substance to depreciate by half the value

Answer 57

Half life

Question 58

The heat required to raise the temperature of water by one degree kelvin

Answer 58

Heat capacity

Question 59

Heat given off when a compound is burnt in air (oxygen)

Answer 59

Heat of combustion

Question 60

Process where an unsaturated compound turns into a saturated compound by the addition of hydrogen

Answer 60

Hydrogenation

Question 61

The temperature needed for a substance to start burn

Answer 61

Ignition temperature

Question 62

amount of light radiated per unit area of the surface on which it falls

Answer 62

Illuminance

Question 63

Luminous flux per unit area

Answer 63

Illumination/Illuminance

Question 64

physical quantity is equal to the change in momentum of a moving body; Change in momentum over a small period of time

Answer 64

Impulse

Question 65

product of force & the time for which it is applied

Answer 65

Impulse

Question 66

The emission of visible radiation from a substance at high temperature

Answer 66

Incandescence

Question 67

Magnetism produced in a material when it is placed in a magnetic field

Answer 67

Induced Magnetism

Question 68

Process where charged particles attract small uncharged particles; measure of a conductor’s resistance to a change in current

Answer 68

Induction

Question 69

Tendency of a mass (body) to resist motion

Answer 69

Inertia

Question 70

The energy that a wave transports per unit time across a unit area of the medium through which it is travelling

Answer 70

Intensity

Question 71

Quantity of electricity converted by an appliance working at 1000W in 1hour

Answer 71

Kilowatt Hour

Question 72

Study of bodies in motion ignoring masses and forces

Answer 72

Kinematics

Question 73

Energy possessed by a body in motion

Answer 73

kinetic Energy

Question 74

amount of energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its physical state that occurs without changing its temperature

Answer 74

latent heat

Question 75

The heat absorbed as a substance changes phase from solid to liquid, a process called fusion or solidification

Answer 75

latent heat of fusion

Question 76

The heat absorbed when a substance changes phase from liquid to gas

Answer 76

Latent heat of vaporization

Question 77

The speed of an object relative to the speed of sound under the same temperature and pressure

Answer 77

Mac Number

Question 78

branch of physics is concerned with forces and their effects on whole objects

Answer 78

Mechanics

Question 79

Curved surface of a liquid

Answer 79

Meniscus

Question 80

The measure of the turning effect of a force

Answer 80

Moment/Torque

Question 81

Mass of an object multiplied by its velocity

Answer 81

Momentum

Question 82

Unbalance force that gives a mass of 1kg an acceleration of 1ms-2

Answer 82

Newton

Question 83

The midpoint of a lens from its surfaces along the principal axis; Point in a lens through which light rays pass without deviation

Answer 83

Optical Centre

Question 84

branch of physics is concerned with the study of lights & vision

Answer 84

optics

Question 85

time a pendelum takes to swing back and forth

Answer 85

Oscillation

Question 86

molecule formed when a stable molecule of oxygen is subjected to ultraviolet radiation

Answer 86

Ozone

Question 87

a temperature difference created by applying a voltage between two electrodes connected to a sample of semiconductor material. This phenomenon can be useful when it is necessary to transfer heat from one medium to another on a small scale

Answer 87

Peltier effect

Question 88

the point in the orbit of the moon or an artificial satellite around the earth at which the body is closest from the earth

Answer 88

perigee

Question 89

one complete swing in a pendulum

Answer 89

Period

Question 90

A small packet of electromagnetic radiation (light)

Answer 90

Photon

Question 91

The production of electricity or electric polarity by applying a mechanical stress to certain crystals

Answer 91

Piezoelectric effect

Question 92

Point from which all torque arms are measured

Answer 92

Pivot

Question 93

Gas capable of conducting electricity

Answer 93

Plasma

Question 94

Energy possed by a body due to its position

Answer 94

Potential energy

Question 95

line joining the centre of curvature on a lens

Answer 95

Principal axis

Question 96

EM radiation is used for communicating through space without a physical link

Answer 96

Radio Wave

Question 97

Purification techniques involving the melting and refreezing of substances at different temperatures

Answer 97

Regelation

Question 98

Mass of an object not in motion

Answer 98

Rest Mass

Question 99

an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path with no or very low electrical impedance

Answer 99

Short Circuit

Question 100

a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels

Answer 100

Sonar

Question 101

The heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg of water by one degree kelvin

Answer 101

Specific heat capacity

Question 102

the transition from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through an intermediate liquid phase

Answer 102

Sublimation

Question 103

The characteristic exhibited by some materials where their resistance drops to exactly zero below a certain temperature

Answer 103

superconductivity

Question 104

Body of mass formed when a star explodes and die

Answer 104

Supernova

Question 105

The effect of the earth’s rotation on the atmosphere and on all object on the earth’s surface

Answer 105

The corioles effect

Question 106

The scientific study of heat and energy transfer

Answer 106

Thermodynamics

Question 107

particles move at right angle in the path of the wave

Answer 107

Transverse Wave

Question 108

Reflection of light by very small particles in suspension in a trasnparent medium

Answer 108

Tyndall effect

Question 109

Speed and direction of a an object in motion

Answer 109

Velocity

Question 110

Distance moved by the effort divided by the distance moved by the load in the same time

Answer 110

Velocity ratio

Question 111

Internal friction in a fluid

Answer 111

Viscosity

Question 112

Shortest distance from the initial to the final position of a point

Answer 112

Wavelength

Question 113

The distance between two succesive crest or trouph on wave (ƛ = v/f)

Answer 113

Wavelength

Question 114

Product of force and distance

Answer 114

Work

Question 115

Elastic property of an object is measured by stress to strain

Answer 115

Youngs Modulus

Question 116

Ratio of stress to strain

Answer 116

Youngs Modulus