Physics SPM

Definitions

Form 4
Introduction to physics
Physics A branch of science which studies physical and natural phenomena around us.

Physical quantity Quantity that can be measured. (must have magnitude and unit)
Eg : speed, length

Non-physical quantity Something cannot be measured.

Eg : beauty, feelings

Base quantity Physical quantity which cannot be defined in terms of other physical
quantities.
Eg: length, mass, time, temperature

Derived quantity Physical quantity produced from base quantity through multiplication, division
or both
Eg: speed, acceleration, impulse, frequency

Scalar quantity Physical quantity that has magnitude only

Eg: distance

Vector quantity Physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction
Eg: velocity, acceleration

Accuracy Measuring instruments that give a physical quantity close to actual value

Consistency Ability of instrument to give consistent readings when same physical quantity
is measured more than once

Sensitivity Ability of instrument to detect small changes in a quantity measured

Systematic error Error caused by instrument, observer or surroundings

Random error Error caused by the reader

Eg: parallax error

Force and motion

Distance Total route taken by a motion

Displacement Distance taken with consideration of direction/ shortest route travelled

Speed Rate of change of distance

Velocity Rate of change of displacement

Acceleration Rate of change of velocity

Inertia (newton first law) Tendency of an object to maintain its state of rest

Momentum (newton Product of mass and velocity

second law)
Force An action which will alter the state of motion of a body in a straight line/
product of mass and acceleration

Impulse Change of momentum

Impulsive force Rate of change of momentum

Weight The force of gravity acting on the object

Mass The total quantity of material contained in an object

Newton third law For any action there is a reaction (same magnitude, opposite direction)

Resultant force Force obtained from the addition of two or more forces

Work done Product of the force and the distance over which the force is applied

Energy Potential or ability to carry out work

Potential energy Energy possessed by an object due to its position/ state

Kinetic energy Energy possessed by an object due to its motion

Elasticity Ability of an object to return to its original state when force is acted upon it

Hooke’s law Extension of spring is proportional to force applied (elasticity limit not
exceeded)

Elastic potential energy The energy stored in a spring when it is extended or compressed

Pressure
Pressure Force acting normally per unit area

Pascal principle The pressure exerted on a confined liquid is transmitted equally in all
directions
Eg : hydraulic jack, hydraulic brakes
Archimedes principle When object is wholly or partially immersed in liquid, it experiences a buoyant
force (buoyant force = weight of fluid displaced)

Bernoulli’s principle When speed increases, pressure decreases (vice versa)

Eg : Bunsen burner, insecticide spray, carburettor, filter pump, aerofoil, surf
sail

Heat
Temperature Degree of hotness

Heat Form of energy

Thermal equilibrium Condition where there is not net rate of heat flow between two bodies, object
or substance

Specific heat capacity Quantity/ amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of a mass 1kg
by 1°𝑐

Specific latent heat of Quantity/ amount of heat needed to change 1kg of solid to liquid at its melting
fusion point without change in temperature

Specific latent heat of Quantity/ amount of heat needed to change 1kg of liquid to gas/vapour at its
vaporisation boiling point without change in temperature

Boyle’s law Pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to volume of gas
(temperature of gas: constant)

Charles’ law For a fixed mass of ideal gas, the volume is directly proportional to its absolute
temperature at constant pressure

Pressure law The pressure of an ideal gas is directly proportional to absolute temperature at
constant volume

Absolute temperature A temperature measured from absolute zero in kelvins.

Light
Reflection The change in direction of a wave front at an interface between two different
media so that the wave front returns into the medium from which it originated

Refraction The change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another caused
by its change in speed

Regular reflection The reflection of light where incidence parallel rays are reflected in same
directed
Irregular reflection The reflection of light where incidence parallel rays are refracted in different
directions

Refractive index
Real depth The real and original depth

Apparent depth The depth which is visually seen but not real in depth

Total internal reflection The reflection of light which occurs within the medium
Critical angle Angle of incidence that provides an angle of refraction of 90-degrees

Linear magnification The ratio of size of image to size of object

Form 5
Waves
Wave A disturbance that propagates through space, transferring energy without
transferring matter

Transverse wave Wave in which the direction of vibration of the wave particle is perpendicular
to direction of travel of the wave
Ex: Light waves, radio waves, X-rays

Longitudinal wave Wave in which the direction of vibration of wave particle is parallel to the
direction of travel of the wave
Ex: Sound waves

Wavefront A line that joins all the points vibrating in-phase such as a line passing through
similar wave

Oscillation A to and fro movement along a fixed path

Amplitude (a) Maximum displacement from equilibrium

Period (T) Time taken to make a complete oscillation

Frequency (f) Number of oscillations produced per unit time

1
𝑓 = 𝑇 (Hz)

Wave speed (v) Distance moved by a wave crest in a second

𝜆
𝑣 = 𝑇 (m/s)
Resonance The reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection from a surface or by
the synchronous vibration of a neighbouring object

Damping The decrease of amplitude of an oscillating system

Reflection The change of direction of waves when they hit a reflective surface

Refraction The change of direction of travel when waves cross from a medium to a new
medium

Diffraction Spreading of waves that happens when waves move through a small opening
or round small obstacle

Interference The superposition of two waves when they meet each other

Electricity
Electric current, I The rate of flow of charge
𝑄
I= (A)
𝑡

Electric field A region surrounding a charged body where electric force can be experienced

Potential difference, V The difference of electrical potential between two points/ the work done
when 1 C of charge moves between the two points in an electric field

𝑊
V= (V)
𝑄
𝐸
V = 𝑄 (V)

Ohm’s law Current I is directly proportional to potential difference V

Internal resistance The resistance against moving charge due to the electrolyte

Resistance, R The ratio of potential difference V / voltage across the conductor to current I
which flowing through it

Electromotive force The work done by a source in driving a unit charge around a complete circuit
(e.m.f)
𝑒. 𝑚. 𝑓 (𝐸) = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑟 (V)

Internal resistance 𝑟 = gradient of graph

Electrical energy, E The total energy supplied by the source to all electrical components connected
when a current flows through the circuit

E = QV
= VIt
= 𝐼2 𝑅 𝑡
 𝑉2
= 𝑡
𝑅

E in joules (J)

Electrical power, P The rate of energy transferred

P = VI
= 𝐼2𝑅
𝑉2
=
𝑅

𝑥V, 𝑦W When a potential difference of 𝑥 V is connected across the device, it will

produce energy of 𝑦 J per second

Electromagnetism
Solenoid A long coil made up of several turns of wire like a cylinder

Electromagnet A coil which can produce a magnetic field when a current pass through it

Electromagnetic The production of an electromagnetic force (e.m.f) in a conductor when there

induction is a relative motion of the conductor across a magnetic field

Faraday’s law States that the magnitude of electromagnetic force (e.m.f) induced in a
conductor is directly proportional to the rate which conductor cuts the
magnetic field lines

Lenz’s law States that the induced current always flow in a direction so that it opposes
the change which is causing it

(Fleming’s right hand rule)

Shunt A resistor of a very low resistance

Transformer An electrical device which increases (step up) or decreases (step down) an
alternate voltage based on the principal of electromagnetic induction

Electronics
Thermionic emission The emission of electrons from the surface of heated metal
Cathode Ray Instrument that converts electronic and electrical signals to visual display
Oscilloscope (C.R.O)
Semiconductors Materials which can conduct electricity better than insulators but not as well
as conductors

Dropping The process of adding a specific amount of impurities to a semiconductor to

increase their conductivity
Diode A semiconductor component which convert alternating current a.c. into direct
current d.c. (rectification)

Capacitor An electrical component that:

(a) store electric charge
(b) smooth out waveform in the rectified output
(c) separate the a.c and d.c (as a filter)

Logic gate A part of a digital circuit that is designed to make a decision

Radioactivity
Radioactivity The spontaneous disintegration of unstable nucleus into a more stable nucleus

Half-life The time taken for the number of undecayed nuclei to be reduced to half of its
original number

Isotopes Atoms of elements which have the same proton number but different nucleon
number

Radioisotopes Unstable isotopes which decay and give out radioactive emissions

Gamma emission The emission of 𝛼 and/ or 𝛽 particle from a nucleus

Nuclear fission The splitting of heavy nucleus into 2 lighter nuclei

Chain reaction A self-sustaining reaction in which the products of a reaction can initiate
another similar reaction

Nuclear fusion The combination of 2 lighter nuclei to form a heavier nucleus

“All the best”-