Physics Terminology, Definitions &

Laws DEFINITIONS

MECHANICS
1. Define a vector as a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction and
give examples
2. Define a scalar quantity as a physical quantity that has magnitude only and give
examples
3. Define resultant vector as the single vector which has the same effect as the
original vectors acting together
4. Define distance as the length of path travelled and know that distance is a scalar
quantity
5. Define displacement as a change in position
6. Define speed as the rate of change of distance and know that speed is a scalar
quantity
7. Define velocity as the rate of change of position or rate of displacement or rate of
change of displacement and know that velocity is a vector quantity (v = Δs/Δt)
8. Define acceleration as the rate of change of velocity (a = Δv/Δt)
9. Define weight F gas the gravitational force the Earth exerts on any object on or
near its surface (Fg = mg)
10. Define normal force, F N , as the perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an
object in contact with it
11. Define frictional force due to a surface, F f , as the force that opposes the motion
of an object and acts parallel to the surface with which the object is in contact
12. State Newton‘s first law: An object continues in a state of rest or uniform (moving
with constant) velocity unless it is acted upon by a net or resultant force
13. Define inertia as the property of an object that causes it to resist a change in its
state of rest or uniform motion
14. State Newton‘s second law: When a net force, F net , is applied to an object of
mass, m , it accelerates in the direction of the net force. The acceleration, a , is
directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass (a
=Fnet/m)
15. State Newton‘s third law: When object A exerts a force on object B, object B
simultaneously exerts an oppositely directed force of equal magnitude on object A
16. Define momentum as the product of the mass and velocity of the object (p = mv)
17. State Newton‘s second law in terms of momentum: The net force acting on
an object is equal to the rate of change of momentum. (Note: there are two
acceptable statements of Newton’s Second Law) (Fnet = Δp/Δt)
18. State the law of conservation of linear momentum: The total linear momentum
of an ISOLATED SYSTEM remains constant (is conserved)
19. Define an elastic collision as a collision in which both momentum and kinetic
energy are conserved
20. Define an inelastic collision as a collision in which only momentum is conserved
21. Define impulse as the product of the net force and the contact time (impulse
=Fnet.Δt)
22. Define the work done on an object by a force as the product of the
displacement and the component of the force parallel to the displacement (W =
FΔxcos)
23. Define gravitational potential energy as the energy an object possesses due to
its position relative to a reference point
24. Define kinetic energy as the energy an object has as a result of the object’s
motion
25. Define mechanical energy as the sum of gravitational potential and kinetic
energy at a point
26. State the law of conservation of energy as the total energy in a SYSTEM
cannot be created nor destroyed; only transformed from one form to another
27. State the principle of conservation of mechanical energy: In the absence of
air resistance or any external forces, the mechanical energy of an OBJECT is
Physics Terminology, Definitions &
constant
Laws
28. State that the work done by a net force on an object is equal to the change in the
kinetic energy of the object – the work-energy theorem (W = Fnet.s = ΔEk)
29. Define power as the rate at which work is done or the rate at which energy is
transferred (P=W/t)
30. State that the unit of power is the watt (W). One watt is defined as the power
when one joule of work is done in one second. (1 W = 1 J.s -1)
31. Define efficiency as the ratio of output power to input power
32. State Newton‘s Law of Universal Gravitation: Every particle in the universe
attracts every other particle with a force which is directly proportional to the product
of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their
centres
33. Define gravitational field as the force acting per unit mass

ELECTROSTATICS

34. State Coulomb’s law in words: Two point charges in free space or air exert forces on
each other. The force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the charges
35. Describe an electric field as a region of space in which an electric charge
experiences a force.
36. Define the magnitude of the electric field at a point as the force per unit positive
charge (E=F/q)

CURRENT ELECTRICITY

37. Define potential difference as the work done per unit positive charge (V=W/q)
38. Define current as the rate of flow of charge (I=q/t)
39. State Ohm’s Law: Current through a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across the conductor at constant temperature
40. Define resistance as a material’s opposition to the flow of electric current
41. Define emf as the total energy supplied per coulomb of charge by the cell

ELECTRODYNAMICS

42. State that magnetic flux density ( B) is a representation of the magnitude and
direction of the magnetic field
43. Define magnetic flux linkage as the product of the number of turns on the coil and
the flux through the coil ( NΦ )
44. State Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction: the emf induced is directly
proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux (flux linkage) (emf = - NΔΦ/Δt)
45. State Lenz’s law: the induced current flows in a direction so as to set up a magnetic
field to oppose the change in magnetic flux
46. Define a diode as a component that only allows current to flow in one direction

PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

47. Define threshold (cut-off) frequency ( f o) as the minimum frequency of incident