IE Physics Definitions
General Physics
1. Speed is distance travelled per unit time
2. Velocity
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3. Mass is a measure of quantity of matter in an object relative the the observer
4. Weight is the gravitational force on an object
5. Density is mass per unit volume ρ = m/Vh
6. Spring constant is force per unit extension
7. Hooke’s law states that the extension of an elastic object is directly proportional to the
force applied, up to the limit of proportionality
8. Limit of proportionality is is the point beyond which the relationship between force and
extension is no longer directly proportional
9. Solid friction is the force between two surfaces that may impede motion or cause
heating
10.Moment the turning effect of a force it is defined as, force x perpendicular distance from
the pivot
11. Equilibrium is when there is no resultant force or resultant moment
12.Center of gravity is the point at which the force of gravity seems to act on a body
13.Momentum is mass x velocity
14.Impulse is force x time for which force acts
15.Resultant force is change in momentum per unit time
16.Work done is energy transferred
17.Renewable energy sources are naturally replenished and readily available, including
solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass
18.Non-renewable energy sources are those that exist in finite quantities and cannot be
replenished at a rate that matches their consumption, like fossil fuels
19.Power is work done per unit time also energy transferred per unit time
20.Pressure is force per unit area
Thermal Physics
1. Absolute zero is the temperature at which particles have the least possible kinetic
energy (−273°C)
2. Brownian motion is the random movement of particles due to random collisions
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3. Specific heat capacity is the energy required per unit mass per unit temperature
increase
4. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of individual particles or a
measure of how hot or cold an object is
5. Internal energy is the total energy of all the particles
6. Thermal expansion is the increase in the volume of a material due to heating
7. Thermal conduction is the transfer of thermal energy by the vibration of molecules the
material itself does not move
8. Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through a material by the movement of the
material itself
9. Radiation is the transfer of thermal energy through infrared radiation
Waves
1. Waves transfer energy without transferring matter
2. Transverse waves the direction of wave vibration is perpendicular to the direction of
propagation E.g: seismic S-waves
3. Longitudinal waves the direction of wave vibration is parallel to the direction of
propagation E.g: seismic P-waves
4. Crest or peaks are the highest point above the wave
5. Troughs are the lowest point below the wave
6. Amplitude is the maximum/minimum displacement from the undisturbed position
7. Wavelength is the distance from one peak to the next peak
8. Frequency is the number of waves passing a point in a second
9. Wave speed is the distance travelled by a wave in each second
10.Reflection is when a wave hits a boundary between two media and does not pass
through but instead stays in the original medium
11.Refraction is when a wave passes through a boundary between two medium and
undergoes a change in direction
12.Diffraction is when waves spread out when passing through a narrow gap
13. Refractive index is the speed of light in a material (it is always less than speed of light
in vacuum)
14.Total internal reflection is when the angle of incidence is greater than critical angle and
the incident material is denser than the second material
15.Critical angle is the angle of incidence for which the angle of refraction is 90*
16.Principal axis is a line which passes through the center of a lens
17.Principal focus or focal point is the point at which rays travelling parallel to the
principal axis intersect the principal axis and converge
18.Focal length is the distance between the center of the lens and the principal focus
19.Converging lenses bring light rays into a focus
20.Diverging lenses make parallel rays of light to diverge
21.Real image is what is formed when light rays from an object converge and meet each
other and can be projected onto a screen they are always inverted
22.Upright is when an image’s left and right has been reversed
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23.Virtual is when light rays from and object do not meet but appear to meet behind the
lens and can not be projected onto a screen they are always upright
24.Short sightedness occurs when eyes are too large they can not see things far away
this is because the eye refracts light and brings it into a focus before it reaches the retina
meaning the focus point is infront of the retina this can be corrected with a concave or
diverging lens
25.Long sightedness occur when eyes are too small and they can not see things that are
close by this is because the eye refracts light beyond the retina or the focal point is
beyond the retina this is corrected by convex or converging lens
26.Dispersion is the separation of different wavelengths of light as they are refracted
through different angles
27.Spectrum is waves or colors of light separated out in order according to their
wavelengths
28.Ripple tank is a shallow tank that demonstrates how waves behave
29.P-waves are fast moving
30.S-waves are slow moving
31.Analogue signal which varies continuously in frequency and amplitude
32.Digital signal consists of a series of pulses which are either on or off
33. Audible range is from 20 Hz to 20000Hz
34.Ultrasound is a sound with frequency higher than 20000 Hz
