Physics 9702 A2 Level Definitions

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1. Absolute Zero: The theoretical temperature at which the molecules of a sub-

stance have the lowest energy and hence the substance has minimum internal
energy and no kinetic energy
2. acoustic impedance: product of density of medium and speed of sound in
medium
3. Activity: The number of atoms of a radioactive substance that decay per unit
time.
4. amplitude modulation: amplitude of carrier wave varies in synchrony with the
displacement of the information signal
5. Analogue signal: data varies continuously with time and can have any value
between two limits
6. Angular Velocity: the rate of change of angular displacement with respect to
time swept out by the radius
7. Attenuation: gradual reduction or loss in signal power or energy
8. Avogadro constant: number of atoms of carbon-12 in 0.012 kg of carbon-12
9. Bandwidth: the range of frequencies that can be amplified by the same amount
of an operational amplifier
10. Binding Energy: The amount of energy needed to split a nucleus completely
into its individual nucleons.
11. Binding Energy per Nucleon: Binding energy divided by the mass or nucleon
number of the nucleus.
12. capacitance: ratio of charge on body and its potential
13. Centripetal Acceleration: Acceleration which is always perpendicular to the
velocity and always acts towards the centre of the circular motion.
14. Centripetal Force: The resultant perpendicular force acting on an object mov-
ing in circular motion
15. Coaxial cables: a pair of wires arranged so that one wire is shrouded by the
other
16. contrast: difference blackening in different regions due to different absorption
coefficient
17. Coulomb's Law: The force between two point charges is directly proportional
to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between the charges.

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18. cross-talk: picking up of signal in one cable from a second nearby cable
19. damping: continuous loss in energy from the oscillating system due to force
always acting in opposite direction to the motion
20. de Broglie wavelength: wavelength of wave that is associated with a particle
that is moving
21. decay constant: probability of decay of a nucleus per unit time
22. digital signal: consists of a series of pulses of highs and lows between two
discrete levels and has no intermediate values
23. Electric Field Strength: force per unit positive charge acting on a small
stationary positive test charge placed at that point
24. Electric Potential: work done per unit charge in bringing a positive test charge
from infinity to the point (without a change in kinetic energy).
25. Electronvolt: energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through a
p.d. of one volt.
26. Faraday's Law: Whenever there is a change in magnetic flux linkage of a
circuit or coil, an e.m.f. is induced in the circuit and the magnitude is directly
proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux linkage of the circuit or coil.
27. fibre-optic transmission: signal is in the form of a series of pulses of light
which pass along a glass fibre as a result of total internal reflection
28. field of force: region (of space) where a body experiences a force
29. First Law of Thermodynamics: The First Law of Thermodynamics states that
the internal energy of a system depends only on the thermodynamic state of the
system; the increase in the internal energy of a system is equal to the sum of the
heat supplied to the system and the work done on the system.
30. Forced Oscillation: When the system is forced to oscillate at a frequency
other than the natural frequency by a periodic external force.
31. free oscillations: oscillations with no external forces acting
32. frequency modulation: frequency of carrier wave varies in synchrony with
displacement of information signal
33. geostationary orbit: an equatorial orbit which stays on the same point on the
Earth with a period of 24 hours and moves from west to east
34. gravitational field: region of space in which a mass experiences a force

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35. Gravitational Field Strength: gravitational force per unit mass experienced by
a mass placed at that point
36. Gravitational Potential: work done per unit mass by an external agent in
bringing a mass from infinity to that point without a change in kinetic energy.
37. Gravitational Potential Energy: the work done by an external agent in bring-
ing the mass from infinity to present location without any change in kinetic energy
38. Half life: Half life of a radioactive element is the time taken for a sample of
atoms to decay to half their initial number.
39. Half-value thickness: thickness needed to reduce the intensity to half the
initial value
40. Hardness of an X-ray: penetration of X-ray
41. Heat Capacity T: The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of the
body by 1K.
42. ideal gas: a gas which obeys Boyle's Law Charles' Law and Pressure Law
43. Intensity of an X-ray: the rate of arrival of electrons at target
44. Internal Energy: The sum of the microscopic kinetic and potential energies of
the molecules that make up the system due to random motion
45. isotopes: nuclei having same number of protons but different number of neu-
trons
46. Kelvin: The Kelvin is defined as 1/273.16 of the temperature difference be-
tween absolute zero and the triple point of water.
47. Latent Heat: It is the thermal energy required by matter for a change in phase.
48. Lenz's Law: Lenz's Law states that the direction of the induced current is such
as to oppose the change in flux which causes it.
49. Light emitting diode: a diode which emits light when forward biased
50. magnetic field: region of space in which a force is experienced current-carry-
ing conductor, moving charge or magnetic poles
51. Magnetic Flux: Magnetic flux through a plane surface is the product of the
area and the magnetic flux density that passes through the area perpendicularly.
52. Magnetic Flux Density: force per unit length on a straight conductor carrying
unit current placed perpendicularly to the field.
53. Magnetic Flux Linkage: the magnetic flux passing through each turn of the
coil multiplied by the number of turns of the coil.
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54. Mass Defect: The difference between the sum of the individual masses of
protons and neutrons and the mass of a nucleus.
55. Mobile phone: a long-range portable electronic device used for mobile com-
munication
56. Modulation: process of varying either the amplitude or frequency of a carrier
wave in synchrony with the displacement of information signal in order to carry
information
57. mole: amount of substance containing same number of particles as in 0.012
kg of carbon-12 isotope
58. Natural Frequency: The frequency of oscillation when a system oscillates
freely without any external force applied.
59. negative feedback: the process of taking some or all of the output and re-
turned to the inverting input and is out of phase by 180 degrees with the input
60. Newton's Law of Gravitation/Gravitational Force: Newton's law of gravi-
tation states that the force of attraction between two point masses is directly
proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square
of their distance apart.
61. noise: unwanted random signal power that distorts the transmitted signal
62. nuclear fission: splitting of heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei having ap-
proximately the equal mass which are more stable
63. Nuclear Fusion: Process by which nuclei with mass numbers lower than 56
combine to form nuclei of higher mass numbers which are more stable.
64. oscillations: backward and forward motion between two limits
65. Photoelectric Effect: The emission of electrons from a metal as a result of
light with sufficiently short wavelength falling on it.
66. photon: discrete amount of quantum energy of electromagnetic radiation
67. Piezo-electric effect: the process by which ultrasonic transducer produce
ultrasonic waves
68. potential energy: ability to do work as a result of position or shape of an object
69. radian: angle subtended at centre of circle by an arc is equal in length to the
radius of the circle
70. Radioactivity: The spontaneous emission of ? or ? radiation by a parent nu-
cleus which results in itself being transformed into a completely different daughter
nucleus.
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71. Relay: an electromagnetic switch that uses a small current to switch on or off
a larger current
72. resonance: tendency of a system to oscillate at maximum amplitude of vibra-
tion when impressed frequency is equal to the natural frequency of vibration
73. Retention time: the time taken between time when end of pulse and time when
emission of r.f. radiation occurs
74. RMS value of an Alternating current: It is the value of the steady direct
current which would dissipate heat at the same rate in a given resistance as the
alternating current.
75. root-mean-square (r.m.s.) value of alternating current: the value of direct
current that provides the same mean power in a resistor as the alternating current
76. root-mean-square (r.m.s.) value of alternating voltage: the steady voltage
which produces the same power in a resistor as the alternating voltage
77. sharpness: the ease with which the edges can be clearly distinguished
78. Simple Harmonic Motion: The motion of the body whose acceleration is
directly proportional to its displacement from a fixed point (equilibrium position)
and is always directed towards that fixed point.
79. Specific acoustic impedance: product of the density of medium and the
speed of the wave in the medium
80. Specific Heat Capacity: It is the quantity of heat required to raise the temper-
ature of 1kg of the body by 1K.
81. specific latent heat: thermal energy needed to change the state of a unit mass
of a substance without change in temperature
82. specific latent heat of fusion: thermal energy needed to change the state of
a unit mass of a substance from solid to liquid without any change in temperature
83. Specific Latent Heat of Vaporisation: It is the thermal energy required for
1kg of substance to change from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase without a
change in temperature.
84. Summing amplifier: when two or more are fed into input with negative feed-
back
85. tesla: the unit of magnetic flux density in which a uniform field normal to a long
straight conductor carrying a current of one ampere exerts a force of one Newton
per metre on the conductor

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 Physics 9702 A2 Level Definitions
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86. Thermal Equilibrium: When two objects in thermal contact cease to have any
exchange of heat.
87. threshold frequency: minimum frequency for electron to be emitted from a
cold metal surface of electromagnetic radiation
88. Triple Point of Water T: The particular temperature and pressure at which the
three states of water can co-exist in equilibrium.
89. Uniform Circular Motion: The motion of an object moving in circular path at
constant speed with constant angular velocity.
90. Uniform Electric Field: Electric field strength is equal in magnitude and has
the same direction at all points in the region.
91. virtual earth: op-amp has a very large gain non-inverting input is earthed so
if the amplifier is not to saturate, the inverting input must be almost equal to zero
volts
92. Weber: One Weber is the magnetic flux if a field of flux density one tesla exists
at right angles to an area of one metre square.
93. Wire pairs: a pair of insulated copper wires
94. Work function: minimum amount of photon energy required to remove a free
electron from the surface of a cold metal

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