A2 Physics definitions

Circular Motion and Oscillations

1. Angular displacement
Angle swept through about an axis of revolution
2. Radians
Angle subtended at center of circle when arc equals in length to the radius
3. Angular velocity
Rate of change of angular displacement
Change in angular displacement per unit time
4. Centripetal Acceleration
Change in velocity per unit time, particles acceleration towards the center of
the circle
5. Centripetal Force
(Force needed for circular motion) resultant force that causes the body to move
in a circle, the direction of force is towards the center of circle
6. Period (T)
Time taken for 1 complete revolution
7. Frequency (f)
Rate of revolution; number of revolution per unit time
8. Angular Frequency ( )
Frequency of oscillations expressed in radian per second
9. Oscillatory motion
A to and fro motion
10.
Simple Harmonic Motion
Motion of a body in which acceleration of the body is directly proportional to the
displacement from a fixed point and the acceleration is always directed towards
that fixed point.
Equations of SHM

11.
Displacement
x disturbance from equilibrium at any point in time
12.
Amplitude
Maximum displacement from equilibrium
13.
Damping: where amplitude decrease with time
a. Critical
c. Heavy /Over
e. Light
b.
d.
14.
15.
16.
Natural frequency
17.
Frequency of a system, which oscillates without any applied force
18.
Forced oscillations
19.
When it is forced to oscillate at a frequency other than its natural
frequency by external periodic force. Frequency of forced oscillating system =
frequency of driving system
20.
Resonance
21.
Oscillation at maximum amplitude when the driving force frequency =
natural frequency
22.

A2 Physics definitions
23.
24.
Electromagnetism and Electromagnetic induction
1. Magnetic flux density (B)
25.
Force per unit length per unit current on a current carrying conductor lying
at right angles to the magnetic field
2. Tesla (T)
Magnetic flux density that produces a force of 1 Newton per meter on a wire
carrying current of one amp normal to the field
3. Force on moving charge
26.
When charge moves in a magnetic field a magnetic force acts on the
charge. F=BQvsin0
In order for a charged particle to experience a force, charge must be moving
and velocitys component must be normal to the field.
4. Magnetic flux
total magnetic lines passing normally through a surface of unit area
27.
28.
5. Weber
1 weber is the magnetic flux when magnetic flux density of 1 tesla passing
normally through a surface area of 1m2
6. Magnetic flux linkage
total magnetic flux passing through N turns of coil
29.
7. Faradays law
30.
Magnitude of the induced e.m.f is directly proportional to the rate of
change of magnetic flux
31.
32.
8. Lenzs law
induced current flows in such a direction to produce an effect (second magnetic
field produced by induced current) so as to oppose the change (increase or
decrease of magnetic flux) of magnetic flux producing it.
33.
34.
9. Eddy Current
35.
Induced current flowing in circles within a solid conductor due to a change
of magnetic flux in the solid conductor. It causes heating effect = energy loss.
Laminating prevents it.
36.
Eddy current in oscillations (due to faradays law)
plate cuts magnetic field lines.
This changes magnetic flux in plate which induces e.m.f
Induced e.m.f are different at different parts of the plate which allows
potential difference in the plate = current flows.
37.
(Due to Lenzs law, eddy current produces a force which opposes the
motion = damping )
38.
39.
40.

A2 Physics definitions
41.
42.
43.
Direct Sensing
1. Sensing device (transducer)
44.
Electronic component with a property that changes with a change in
physical quantity
2. Processing Unit
45.
Component, which takes signal from sensing device and gives out output
voltage
3. Op-amp
46.
Vout = Ao (V+-V-) ; polarity of output depends on which input is larger. Ao =
open loop gain
4. Main properties of Ideal Op-Amp
a. Infinite input impedance
b. Zero output impedance
c. Infinite open loop gain
d. Infinite bandwidth
5. Negative feedback
47.
Process in which a fraction of its output is returned to the inverting input,
which is 180degrees out of phase with the voltage output.
6. Advantages of Negative feedback
a. Increased bandwidth (range of frequency increases)
b. Less saturation
c. Greater gain control (greater stability)
d. (disadvantage= gain is small, but can be overcome by multi-stage
amplifier)
7. Inverting Op-amp
Feedback goes to inverting input through resistor Rf
V+ is always earthed, V+ = 0
Rin and Rf acts as potential divider between input and output of opamp
When Rin = Vin = inverting op-amp
48.
59.
Deriving equation
49.
At point P it is virtual earth,
50.
V+ V51.
Since V+ is grounded, this
52.
means V- is also 0V
53.
Assuming op amp has
54.
infinite input impedance,
55.
Iin = Iout
56.
= 0-Vout
57.
Vin 0
58.
Rin
Rf

60.
8. Non-Inverting Op-amp
Input voltage goes to V+; V+ = Vin = non inverting
Creates Vout which is in phase with Vin
Provided by potential divider with resistor R1 and Rf
No virtual earth, input impedence does not vary
61.
62.
63.
9. Relay
64.
Electro magnetic switch, uses small current to switch on a larger current.
It is used as output of op-amp is not big
10.
Diode
65.
Only allows current to flow in the direction of arrow
11.
Light emitting diode
66.
Emits light when it is forward based, low power consumption
12.
Light Dependent Resistor
67.
Senses change in intensity of light and vary resistance accordingly
68.
When light intensity increase, resistance decrease; light intensity
decrease, resistance increase
13.
Thermistor
69.
Senses change in temperature and vary resistance accordingly
70.
When temperature increase, resistance decreases; temperature decrease,
resistance increase
14.
Strain Gauge
71.
Long thin wire fixed onto a plastic sheet. Follows equation R=
,R
change in l
72.
When stretched and length increase, resistance increases; when
compressed and length decrease, resistance decreases. Area is negligible
15.
Piezo-electric transducer
73.
Produce voltage when it is compressed or expressed
74.
Polarity changes when it turns from being stretched to compressed
75.
76.
Alternating Current
1. Period
2. Frequency
3. Peak value
4. Root-mean-squared (RMS)
5. Ideal transformer equation
77.