A Level Physics Definitions-AS (2016-2018)

NO Term Definition YEAR

1 acceleration change in velocity/ time (taken) or rate of change of velocity m16/22/2
2 work done (work = ) force × distance moved in the direction of the force m16/22/3
the energy stored (in an object) due to extension/ compression/
3 elastic potential energy m16/22/3
change of shape
By reference to the direction
of propagation of energy, Displacement of particles perpendicular to direction of energy
4 m16/22/4
state what is meant by a propagation
transverse wave
waves meet/ overlap (at a point) B1
State the principle of
5 (resultant) displacement is sum of the individual displacements m16/22/4
superposition
B1
6 electric current movement/ flow of charge carriers m16/22/5
electric potential difference work (done) or energy (transformed)(from electrical to other
7 m16/22/5
(p.d.) forms) per unit charge
Newton’s second law of (resultant) force proportional/equal to rate of change of
8 s16/21/3
motion momentum
the energy (stored) in a body due to its
9 Elastic potential energy s16/21/4
extension/compression/deformation/change in shape/size
10 Coulomb (coulomb is) ampere second s16/21/6
acceleration = change in velocity / time (taken) or rate of change
11 Acceleration s16/22/1
of velocity
12 Young modulus Young modulus = stress/ strain s16/22/3
vibrations/oscillations (of the particles/wave) are perpendicular
13 Transverse wave s16/22/4
to the direction (of the propagation of energy)
vibrations/oscillations (of the particles/wave) are parallel to the
14 Longitudinal wave s16/22/4
direction or in the same direction (of the propagation of energy)
change/difference in the observed/apparent frequency when the
15 Doppler effect s16/22/4
source is moving (relative to the observer)
spreading/diverging of waves/light (takes place) at (each)
16 Diffraction s16/22/5
slit/element/gap/aperture
overlapping of waves (from coherent sources at each element)
17 Interference path difference λ/phase difference of 360(°)/2π (produces the s16/22/5
first order)
18 Quantised charge exists only in discrete amounts s16/22/7
the reading is larger or smaller than (or varying from) the true
19 Systematic errors s16/23/2
reading by a constant amount
20 Random errors scatter in readings about the true reading s16/23/2
21 Precision the size of the smallest division (on the measuring instrument) s16/23/2
22 Accuracy how close value is to the true value s16/23/2
(gravitational potential energy is) the energy/ability to do work
23 Gravitational potential energy of a mass that it has or is stored due to its position/height in a s16/23/3
gravitational field
kinetic energy is energy/ability to do work a object/body/mass
24 Kinetic energy s16/23/3
has due to its speed/velocity/motion/movement
the total momentum of a system (of colliding particles) remains
The law of conservation of
25 constant provided there is no resultant external force acting on s16/23/5
momentum
the system/isolated or closed system
 the total kinetic energy before (the collision) is equal to the total
26 Elastic collision s16/23/5
kinetic energy after (the collision)
27 Ohm ohm is volt per ampere or volt/ ampere s16/23/6
28 Density (density =) mass / volume w16/21/1
29 w16/21/2
force/load is proportional to extension/compression (provided
30 Hooke’s law w16/21/3
proportionality limit is not exceeded)
the number of oscillations per unit time of the source/of a point
Frequency of a progressive
31 on the wave/of a particle (in the medium) or the number of w16/21/4
wave
wavelengths/wavefronts per unit time passing a (fixed) point
wave incident on/passes by or through an aperture/edge wave
32 Diffraction of a wave w16/21/5
spreads (into geometrical shadow)
Electric potential difference work done or energy (transformed) (from electrical to other
33 w16/21/6
(p.d.) forms) per unit charge
34 Pressure force /area (normal to the force) w16/22/1
Two conditions for an object resultant force (in any direction) is zero
35 w16/22/3
to be in equilibrium resultant moment/torque (about any point) is zero
wave incident on/passes by or through an aperture/edge wave
36 Diffraction of a wave w16/22/4
spreads (into geometrical shadow)
total/sum of electromotive forces or e.m.f.s = total/sum of
37 Kirchhoff’s second law potential differences or p.d.s around a loop/(closed) w16/22/5
circuit
38 Density (density =) mass / volume w16/23/1
39 w16/23/2
force/load is proportional to extension/compression (provided
40 Hooke’s law w16/23/3
proportionality limit is not exceeded)
41 Efficiency efficiency = useful energy out / total energy in w16/23/3
the number of oscillations per unit time of the source/of a point
Frequency of a progressive
42 on the wave/of a particle (in the medium) or the number of w16/23/4
wave
wavelengths/wavefronts per unit time passing a (fixed) point
wave incident on/passes by or through an aperture/edge wave
43 Diffraction of a wave w16/23/5
spreads (into geometrical shadow)
work done or energy (transformed) (from electrical to other
44 Potential difference (p.d.) w16/23/6
forms) per unit charge
sum / total momentum of bodies is constant or
the principle of conservation sum / total momentum of bodies before = sum / total momentum
45 m17/22/2
of momentum of bodies after
for an isolated /closed system / no (resultant) external force
46 velocity change of displacement /time (taken) m17/22/3
change in frequency when source moves relative to observer
47 Doppler effect M1 m17/22/4
refers to ‘change in observed / apparent frequency’ A1
(accuracy determined by) the closeness of the
48 Accuracy s17/21/1
value(s)/measurement(s) to the true value
49 Precision (precision determined by) the range of the values/measurements s17/21/1
Two conditions for a system resultant force (in any direction) is zero
50 s17/21/2
to be in equilibrium resultant torque/moment (about any point) is zero
51 Centre of gravity the point from where (all) the weight (of a body) seems to act s17/21/3
(two) waves travelling (at same speed) in opposite directions
52 Stationary wave overlap waves (are same type and) have same s17/21/4
frequency/wavelength

2
 observed frequency is different to source frequency when source
53 Doppler effect s17/21/5
moves relative to observer
54 Ohm volt / ampere s17/21/6
rate of change of displacement or change in displacement/time
55 Velocity s17/22/2
taken
a body/mass/object continues (at rest or) at constant/uniform
56 Newton’s first law of motion s17/22/4
velocity unless acted on by a resultant force
frequency is the number of vibrations/oscillations per unit time
57 Frequency of a sound wave s17/22/5
or the number of wavefronts passing a point per unit time
Electromotive force (e.m.f.) energy transformed from chemical to electrical /unit charge
58 s17/22/7
of a cell (driven around a complete circuit)
Newton’s second law of (resultant) force is proportional/equal to the rate of change of
59 s17/23/2
motion momentum
60 s17/23/3
Diffraction of light at a waves at the elements/slits; waves spread (into the geometric
61 s17/23/5
diffraction grating shadow)
62 Strain (strain =) extension / original length w17/21/4
63 w17/21/6
64 Ohm (the ohm is) volt / ampere w17/21/7
force × perpendicular distance (of line of action of force)
65 The moment of a force w17/22/2
to/from a point
The conditions required for (two) waves travelling (at same speed) in opposite directions
66 the formation of a stationary overlap ; waves (are same type w17/22/4
wave and) have same frequency/wavelength
67 Coulomb (coulomb is) ampere second w17/22/5
68 Electric current flow of charge carriers w17/22/6
69 Power work (done) / time (taken) or energy (transferred) / time (taken) w17/23/1
sum/total momentum (of system of bodies) is constant or
The principle of conservation
70 sum/total momentum before = sum/total momentum after; for an w17/23/3
of momentum
isolated system/no (resultant) external force
displacement of particles/vibration(s)/oscillation(s) is parallel
71 Longitudinal wave w17/23/4
to/along the direction of energy/propagation
72 w17/23/5
73 work done force × distance moved in the direction of the force m18/22/2
74 kinetic energy energy (of a mass/body) due to motion / speed / velocity m18/22/2
75 stress force / (cross-sectional) area m18/22/3
76 strain extension / original length m18/22/3
(two) waves (travelling at same speed) in opposite directions
the conditions required for
overlap B1
77 the formation of a stationary m18/22/4
(waves are same type and) have same frequency / wavelength
wave
B1
sum of e.m.f.(s) = sum of p.d.(s) M1
78 Kirchhoff’s second law m18/22/5
around a loop / around a closed circuit A1
79 Scalar a scalar has magnitude (only) s18/21/1
80 Vector a vector has magnitude and direction s18/21/1
a body continues at (rest or) constant velocity unless acted upon
81 Newton’s first law of motion s18/21/2
by a resultant force
mass is the property (of a body/object) resisting changes in
82 The mass of a body motion s18/21/3
or mass is the quantity of matter (in a body)

3
 time for one oscillation/one vibration/one cycle; or time between
83 Period of a progressive wave adjacent wavefronts/points in phase; s18/21/4
or shortest time between two wavefronts/points in phase
distance moved by wavefront/energy during one
cycle/oscillation/period (of source); or minimum distance
84 Wavelength between two wavefronts; or distance between two adjacent s18/21/4
wavefronts; or minimum distance between two points having the
same displacement and moving in the same direction
85 Diffracted waves waves spread at (each) slit/gap s18/21/5
86 Coherent waves constant phase difference (between (each of) the waves) s18/21/5
87 Volt joule / coulomb s18/21/6
88 Force rate of change of momentum s18/22/1
sum/total momentum (of system of bodies) is constant or
The principle of conservation
89 sum/total momentum before = sum/total momentum after; for an s18/22/2
of momentum
isolated system/no (resultant) external force
distance moved by wavefront/energy during one
cycle/oscillation/period (of source);
90 Wavelength s18/22/4
or minimum distance between two wavefronts; or distance
between two adjacent wavefronts
91 Antinode (position where) maximum amplitude s18/22/4
sum of current(s) into junction = sum of current(s) out of
92 Kirchhoff’s first law junction; s18/22/6
or (algebraic) sum of current(s) at a junction is zero
Example of a systematic
93 zero error or wrongly calibrated scale s18/23/1
error
reading scale from different angles or wrongly interpolating
94 Example of a random error s18/23/1
between scale readings/divisions
95 Work done (work =) force × distance moved in the direction of the force s18/23/2
When two bodies interact, the forces they exert on each other are
96 Newton’s third law s18/23/3
equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
97 Young modulus (Young modulus =) stress/ strain s18/23/4
98 displacement distance in a specified direction (from a point) w18/21/1
99 acceleration change in velocity/time (taken) w18/21/1
100 power work (done)/time (taken) w18/21/3
101 gravitational potential energy energy of a mass due to its position in a gravitational field w18/21/3
when (two or more) waves meet (at a point) B1
102 the principle of superposition (resultant) displacement is the sum of the individual w18/21/4
displacements B1
103 coherent constant phase difference (between the waves) w18/21/4
104 electric field w18/21/5
sum of e.m.f.(s) equal to sum of p.d.(s) M1
105 Kirchhoff’s second law w18/21/6
around a loop/around a closed circuit A1
sum/total momentum (of a system of bodies) is constant or
the principle of conservation
106 sum/total momentum before = sum/total momentum after M1 w18/22/3
of momentum
for an isolated system or no (resultant) external force A1
reference to the direction of
propagation of energy,state vibration(s)/oscillation(s) (of particles) parallel to direction of
107 w18/22/4
what is meant by a propagation of energy
longitudinal wave
108 volt joule /coulomb w18/22/6

4
 A: (cross-sectional) area (of wire) B1
I = Anve. State what is meant
109 n: number of free electrons per unit volume or number density of w18/22/7
by the symbols A and n
free electrons B1
110 kinetic energy energy (of a mass/body/object) due to motion/speed/velocity w18/23/2
Newton’s second law of (resultant) force proportional/equal to rate of change of
111 w18/23/3
motion momentum
wave (moves along string and) reflects at fixed
112 stationary wave point/Y/X/end/wall/boundary B1 w18/23/4
the incident and reflected waves interfere/superpose B1
113 coulomb (coulomb is an) ampere second w18/23/6
sum of current(s) in(to) junction = sum of current(s) out of
114 Kirchhoff’s first law junction w18/23/7
or (algebraic) sum of current(s) at a junction is zero

A Level Physics Definitions-AS (2013-2015)

NO Term Definition YEAR
mass is the property of a body resisting changes in motion /
quantity of
Distinguish between mass matter in a body / measure of inertia to changes in motion B1
1 s13/21/2
and weight weight is the force due to the gravitational field/force due to
gravity
or gravitational force B1
2 pressure pressure = force / area (normal to force) s13/21/4
State three conditions
waves overlap / meet / superpose (B1)
required for maxima to be
coherence / constant phase difference (not constant λ or
formed in an interference
3 frequency) (B1) s13/21/5
pattern
path difference = 0, λ, 2λ or phase difference = 0, 2π, 4π (B1)
produced by two sources of
same direction of polarisation/unpolarised (B1
microwaves
4 force force = rate of change of momentum s13/22/2
the point where (all) the weight (of the body) M1
5 centre of gravity s13/22/3
is considered / seems to act A1
the sum of the clockwise moments about a point equals the sum
6 the principle of moments of the s13/22/3
anticlockwise moments (about the same point)
7 charge charge = current × time s13/22/6
8 acceleration acceleration = rate of change of velocity s13/23/2
the total momentum of a system (of interacting bodies) remains
the principle of conservation constant M1
9 s13/23/3
of momentum provided there are no resultant external forces / isolated system
A1
10 stress stress = force / cross-sectional area s13/23/4
11 strain strain = extension / original length s13/23/4
when waves overlap / meet B1
the principle of
12 the resultant displacement is the sum of the individual s13/23/5
superposition
displacements of the waves B1

5
 p.d. = work done / energy transformed (from electrical to other
13 potential difference (p.d.) forms) s13/23/6
per unit charge
(work =) force × distance moved / displacement in the direction
of the force
14 work done w13/21/3
OR when a force moves in the direction of the force work is
done
torque of a couple = one of the forces / a force × distance M1
15 the torque of a couple w13/21/4
multiplied by the perpendicular distance between the forces A1
displacement is the distance the rope / particles are (above or
Explain the term
below) from
16 displacement for the wave on w13/21/5
the equilibrium / mean / rest / undisturbed position (not ‘distance
the rope
moved’)
p.d. = work (done) / charge OR energy transferred from
17 potential difference (p.d.) (electrical to other forms) w13/21/6
/ (unit) charge
velocity = rate of change of displacement
18 velocity w13/23/3
OR displacement change / time (taken)
acceleration = rate of change of velocity
19 acceleration w13/23/3
OR change in velocity / time (taken)
gravitational PE is energy of a mass due to its position in a
Distinguish between gravitational field B1
20 gravitational potential energy elastic PE energy stored (in an object) due to (a force) changing w13/23/4
and elastic potential energy its shape /
deformation / being compressed / stretched / strained B1
wavelength: minimum distance between two points moving in
phase
OR distance between neighbouring or consecutive peaks or
21 wavelength λ troughs w13/23/5
OR wavelength is the distance moved by a wavefront in time T
or one
oscillation/cycle or period (of source) B1
frequency: number of wavefronts / (unit) time
22 frequency f w13/23/5
OR number of oscillations per unit time or oscillations/time B1
either rate of change of displacement
23 velocity s14/21/1
or (change in) displacement/ time (taken)
24 power work (done)/ time (taken) s14/21/2
displacement is the distance from the equilibrium position/
25 displacement(wave) s14/21/5
undisturbed position/ midpoint/ rest position
26 amplitude amplitude is the maximum displacement s14/21/5
frequency is the number of wavefronts/ crests passing a point
27 frequency s14/21/5
per unit time/ number of oscillations per unit time
time period is the time between adjacent wavefronts or time for
28 time period s14/21/5
one oscillation
e.m.f.: energy converted from chemical/ other forms to electrical
Distinguish between
per unit charge B1
29 electromotive force (e.m.f.) s14/21/6
p.d.: energy converted from electrical to other forms per unit
and potential difference (p.d.)
charge B1
a body/mass/object continues (at rest or) at constant/uniform
30 Newton’s first law of motion s14/22/3
velocity unless acted on by a resultant force
31 gravitational potential energy GPE: energy of a mass due to its position in a gravitational field s14/22/4

6
32 kinetic energy KE: energy (a mass has) due to its motion/speed/velocity s14/22/4
33 Young modulus (Young modulus/E =) stress/strain s14/22/5
waves from the double slit are coherent/ constant phase
difference B1
waves (from each slit) overlap/ superpose/meet (not interfere)
how the interference fringes B1
34 s14/22/7
are formed maximum/ bright fringe where path difference is nλ
or phase difference is n360U/2πn rad
or minimum/ dark fringe where path difference is (n+1/2)λ
or phase difference is (2n + 1) 180U/(2n + 1)π rad B1
35 scalar scalar has magnitude only s14/23/2
36 vector vector has magnitude and direction s14/23/2
work done is the product of force and the distance moved in the
direction of the
37 work done s14/23/3
force or product of force and displacement in the direction of
the force
(progressive) wave/wave from loudspeaker reflects at end of
how the stationary wave is tube B1
38 s14/23/6
formed in the tube reflected wave overlaps (another) progressive wave B1
same frequency and speed hence stationary wave formed B1
39 pressure pressure = force / area (normal to the force) [clear ratio essential] w14/21/2
two waves (of the same kind) travelling in opposite directions
how stationary waves are
40 overlap B1 w14/21/8
formed
waves have same frequency/wavelength and speed B1
41 electric field strength electric field strength is force per unit positive charge w14/22/3
for a system (of interacting bodies) the total momentum remains
the principle of conservation
42 constant M1 w14/23/4
of momentum
provided there is no resultant force acting (on the system) A1
progressive: energy is moved/ transferred/ propagated from one
place to
Explain what is meant by a another (without the bulk movement of the medium)
43 w14/23/7
progressive transverse wave transverse: (particles) oscillate/ vibrate at right angles to the
direction of
travel of the energy/ wavefront
number of oscillations per unit time/ number of wavefronts
44 frequency passing a point w14/23/7
per unit time
Define speed and velocity
and use these definitions to speed = distance/ time and velocity = displacement/ time B1
45 explain why one of these speed is a scalar as distance has no direction and s15/21/2
quantities is a scalar and the velocity is a vector as displacement has direction B1
other is a vector.
diffraction is the spreading of a wave as it passes through a slit
46 diffraction s15/21/6
or past an edge
when two (or more) waves superpose/meet/overlap M1
47 interference resultant displacement is the sum of the displacement of each s15/21/6
wave A1
a region/space/area where a (stationary) charge experiences an
48 electric field s15/21/7
(electric) force

7
 work (done) or energy (transformed) (from electrical to other
49 potential difference forms) s15/22/1
per unit charge
progressive waves transfer/propagate energy and stationary
waves do not B1
State two differences amplitude constant for progressive wave and varies (from
50 between progressive waves max/antinode to min/zero/node) for stationary wave B1 s15/22/6
and stationary waves adjacent particles in phase for stationary wave and out of phase
for progressive
wave (B1)
51 power (power =) work done / time (taken) or rate of work done s15/23/3
52 coherence coherent: constant phase difference s15/23/6
interference is the (overlapping of waves and the) sum
53 interference of/addition of s15/23/6
displacement of two waves
A progressive wave transfers progressive: all particles have same amplitude
energy. A stationary wave stationary: no nodes or antinodes or maximum to minimum/zero
does not transfer energy. amplitude B1
54 w15/21/5
State two other differences progressive: adjacent particles are not in phase
between progressive waves stationary: waves particles are in phase (between adjacent nodes)
and stationary waves B1
55 electromotive force (e.m.f.) energy converted from chemical to electrical per unit charge w15/21/6
product of the force and the perpendicular distance to/from a
56 moment of a force w15/22/4
point/pivot
waves from loudspeaker (travel down tube and) are reflected at
closed end B1
how stationary waves are
57 two waves (travelling) in opposite directions with same w15/23/6
formed in the tube
frequency/wavelength
overlap B1