List of definition for SPM Physics. Chapter 1: Introduction to Physics No | Terms Definition Related] Stunit Formula 1_| Physics ‘A branch of science centred on the study of matter, energy and connection between them. 2__| Physical Quantity _| The quantity that can be measured. 3__| Base Quantity Physical quantity that cannot be defined. 4 [Derived Quantity | Physical quantity derived from base quantity by multiplication or division or both. 5 | prefix ‘A group of letter placed at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning. 6 _| scalar quantity ‘The quantity which has only magnitude. 7 [vector quantity | The quantity that has both magnitude and direction. 8 | resultant vector 9° | systematic errors | cumulative error that can be compensated for if the error are known 10 | random errors arise from unknown and unpredictable variations in condition produce a different error every time you repeat the experiment 11 | parallax error it’s an error in reading an instrument because observer's eye and pointer are not ina line perpendicular to the plane of a scale 12 | consistency the ability to register the same reading when a measurement is repeated 13 | accuracy the degree of closeness to the actual value. 14 | sensitivity The ability of an instrument to detect a small change in measurement. Chapter 2: Forces and motion. No | Terms Definition Related | Slunit Formula 15 | Linear motion a straight line motion. 16 | Distance, s The length of the actual path travelled. Area under m 7 S| The shortest distance travelled in a specific direction. graph vvs. t m 18 1. The rate of distance changed. v=8 1 2. The change of distance per unit time. (gradient of graph Svs.) | ™® 19 | velocity, » I. The rate of displacement changed. ves, 7 2. The displacement change per unit time. (gradient of graph svs.t) | "> 20 | Acceleration, a 1. The rate of velocity changed. = [gradient of 2 2. The velocity change per unit time. graph vvs.t) ms 21 | Frequency (f) Number of complete oscillation made in a unit of time. t st or Hz 22 | Tick / time interval | Time taken to produced two successive dots by a ticker timer. T F (r) 23 | inertia 1 Is the tendency of an object to remain at rest, or keep moving at constant speed in a straight line.2. Is the property of a mass which resists change from its state of rest or motion 24 | Newton’ First Law | State that an object will remain at rest or continue with a of motion constant speed in a straight line (i.e. constant velocity) unless acted on by an unbalanced force. 25 | Newton's Second State that the force acts on an objectis directly proportional to |, .mv—mu | N law ofmotion _| the rate of change of momentum. t 26 | Newton's Third | State that an action force will produce @ reaction force, with law of Motion ___| same magnitude by act in opposite direction. 27 | Momentum The product of mass and velocity. p=mxv_ [kgms” 28 [Impulse Change in momentum. mv mu = Ft [Roms 29 | Principle of State that if there is no external force acting on the objects, conservation of __ | the total momentum before collision is equal to the total myuy + Mate momentum momentum after the collision. Feat Fata 30 | Elastic collision | Collision of particles which its total Kinetic energy is conserved. les does not stick together after collide) 31 [inelastic collision _| Collision of particles which its total kinetic energy is not conserved. (particle stick together after collide) 32 | Impulsive force Force which only act within a very short duration. F = cis small 33 | Balanced forces | Do not affect an object’s motion. The object will remain stationary, or continue to move at a constant velocity in a straight line. 34 | Unbalanced forces | Object will accelerates or decelerates ina straight line. 35 | Resultant force | The sum of forces which act on an object. 36 | Gravitational field | Region in which an object experiences gravitational attraction/pull towards the centre of the earth. 37 | Gravitational ‘Accelerate due to the pull of the gravitational force. g=t0ms? acceleration, g 38 | Gravitational field | gravitational force which acted ona unit of mass w strength, g a= a | = 10M kot 39 | Free fall Fall due to the gravitational pull only. 40 | Weight The product of mass and gravitational field strength. W=mxg | N 41_| Mass The amount of particles consist in an object kg 42 | Work The product of force and displacement of an object in the Jor Nm direction of the applied force. 43 | Energy ‘An ability to do work. Jor Nm 44 | Kinetic energy Is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its motion. I 45 | Power, P The rate of doing work or using energy. pe |W a t s 46 | Conservation of __ | The total amount of energy is unchanged during the energy transformation of energy from one form to another. 47 | Efficiency, € Is the percentage of useful energy transformed SET ener ay ra OrMEA oy, compared to total energy input. Total energy put 48 | Gravitational Is the energy store by an object due to its position. Gp=mgh | J Potential Energy 49 | Elastic Potential 1. Energy that store in a spring which is compressed or EP. ae ar De Energy stretched. 2 2 J 2. The work done to compress / stretch the spring. (rea under graph Fvs.x) 50 [Elasticity The characteristic of an object which can return to its original shapeafter the applied force is removed. 51 | Extension, x Difference in length of an elastic object compared to its original length. = '52 | Elastic limit Isa limit when it is not exceeded, the spring cannot be able to retum to its original length 53 | Hooke’s Law ‘States that the force, F, applied to a spring is directly F = kx,or proportional to the spring’s extension or compression, x. F=k@-1) 54 | Elastic constant, k | is the force required to produce a unit of extension or a compression. Nm Chapter 3: Forces and Pressure No | Terms Definition Related | Stunit Formula 55 | Pressure, P The force acting normally on a unit of surface area. F | Paor Pao a a_| Nm 56 | Density, p The mass consists ina unit volume. > 7 kgm 57 | Pascal's Principle _ | State that ina fluid, an externally applied pressure is A_h | Pa transmitted uniformly in all directions. A, A, 58 | Archimedes’ State that an object, whether completely or partially principle immersed in a fluid, is acted on by a buoyant force, which is N equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. 59 | Bernoulli's Principle | State that in a steady flow of a fluid, the pressure of the fluid decreases when the velocity of the fluid increases. 60 | Apparent weight | The weight of an object in a fluid. 61_| Real weight The weight of an object in the air. Chapter 4: Heat No |Terms Definition Related | SI unit Formula 62 | Thermal The net rate of heat transfer between two bodies is zero. equilibrium 63 | Thermal contact | Two objects are in thermal contact if heat can flow between them. 64 | Heat capacity The amount of heat energy needed to increase the yet temperature of an object by 1 degree Celsius 65 | specific heat The quantity of heat energy required to increase the pert capacity temperature by 1 kg of substance by 1 degree Celsius or 1k. 66 | latent heat The total energy absorbed or released when a substance completely changed its physical state at a constant temperature. 67 | latent heat of The heat absorbed when a solid melts at constant fusion temperature, 68 | latent heat of The heat absorbed when a liquid change into vapour at @ vaporisation constant temperature 69 | specific latent heat | Amount of heat required to change the phase of 1 kg of a 1-2 k substance at a constant temperature mn kg 70 | specificlatent heat | Amount of heat energy required to change 1kg fa @ of fusion substance from a solid phase to a liquid phase without a m change in temperature71 specific latent heat “Amount of heat energy required to change 1 kg of a of vaporisation substance from liquid phase to the gaseous phase without Jkg™ a change in temperature at its boiling point. 72 | Boyle’s law The relationship between the pressure and volume ofa given mass of gas at a constant temperature 73 | Charles’ Taw The relationship between temperature and volume of a given mass of gas at a constant pressure. 74 | pressure law The relationship between the pressure and temperature of agiven mass of gas at a constant volume. 75_| Absolute zero The lowest temperature can be achieved. Chapter 5: Light No | Terms Definition Related Si Unit Formula 76 | law of reflection _ | -angle of incidence, i, is equal to the angle of reflection, r, (Si= 47) the incidence ray, normal, and reflected ray will all lie on the same plane. 77 | Refraction is a bending of the path of fight due toa change in speed as it enter a medium of different optical density 78_| Angle of incidence, | The angle between normal and incident ray. 79 _| Angle of reflection, r| The angle between normal and reflected ray. 80 | Refractive index, n_| ratio of sini to sinr 1 inc 81_| Angle of refraction, -| The angle between normal and refracted ray. 82 | Snell’s law Ratio of sin i to sin ris a constant which the constant is called refractive index 83 | Critical Is the angle of incidence which produces an angle of angle, c refraction of 90 degree as light transmitted into a medium in which it travels at higher speed. 84 | total internal ‘When light travel from higher dens medium to a lower dens reflection medium, if the angle of incidence {is greater than the critical angle, c, and the light is no longer refracted but is internally reflected, 85 _[ concave lens Is a lens which the middle is thinner than the edge. 86_| convex lens Js alens which the middle is thicker than the edge. 87 | magnification of __ | The magnification of an image is given by the ratio of an image, M image distance, v to object distance,u. Chapter 6: Wave No | Terms Definition Related ‘Stunit Formula 88 | Transverse wave | a wave in which the vibration of particle in the medium at right angle to the direction of a propagation of the wave 89 | Longitudinal wave | the wave in which the vibration of particle in the medium is parallel to the direction of a propagation of the wave 30 | wavelength, a the distance between two successive point of the same phase in a wave91_| Amplitude, A the maximum displacement from its equilibrium position 92_| Period, T the time taken to complete an oscillation 93 | frequency, f the number of complete oscillation made by a vibrating fee system in 1 second. i 94 _| wave speed, v the distance move by a wave in 1 second v=fa 95 | wave front ‘a imaginary line or plane on which the vibration of every point on ita in phase and are at the same distance from the source of a wave 96 _| Damping the decreases in the amplitude of an oscillating system 87 [internal damping | the loss of the energy due to the extension and compression of the molecule in system 98 | External damping _| the loss of energy to overcome frictional force 99 | Resonance is occur when an oscillating system driven at its natural frequency by a periodic force 100 | Incident wave the wave before its strike obstacle 101 | Reflected wave __| the wave which has undergone a change in direction of propagation after reflection 102 | Reflection the speed of a wave change as its move from one medium to another 103 | Diffraction phenomenon in which wave spread out as they pass through an aperture or round small obstacle 104 | Principle of at any instant the wave displacement of a combine motion of superposition any number of interacting wave at a point is 2 sum of the displacement of all component wave at the point 105 | Interference of __| the superposition of two wave originating from two coherent mn wave sources 106 | Sound wave ‘can be imagined as @ series of compression and rarefaction of air molecules. 107 | Loudness is @ measurement of amplitude of sound 108 | Pitch is a measurement of frequency of sound 109 | Electromagnetic | Consist of a combination of oscillating electric and magnetic wave fields perpendicular. 110 | Audio frequency _| sounds of frequencies in the range of 20Hz to 20kHz, which can be heard by human. 111 | Flectromagnetic is a wide ranges of frequency of electromagnetic waves. spectrum Chapter 7: Electricity No | Terms Definition Related ‘SI Unit Ti | Current Ta) The rate of charges flow. @ Aor] s7 (2) The amount of charge flow in a unit of time. t 113 | Potential Between two points of a conductor is the workdone |, _ 1 Vorje Difference to move a Coulomb of charge between them. Q 114 | Resistance “The ratio of potential difference across the material Pa tera to the current. 1 115 | Ohmic conductor | Any other conductors, other than metallic conductors, which obey Ohm’s Law, are described as ohmic conductors.116 Electromotive force, e.mf./E Is the energy supply by a source (of electric supply, such as cell, dynamo ete) in driving a unit charge around a complete circuit. Voryc- 117 | internal (Of @ source or cells the resistance against the resistance, r moving charge due to the electrolyte. 118 | Ohm's Law The current flowing through an ohmic conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its end, provided that itstemperature andthe | fa V other physical conditions (such as temperature) remain constant. 118 [Electrical energy | The energy carried by electrical charges which can be transformedto Tp vip | 7 other forms of energy by the operation of an electrical appliance. 120 | Power Is defined as the rate of energy dissipated or P=VI_ |worwattor vA transferred. 121 | Superconductor __| conduct electricity without lost of energy. 122 | Critical (Highest) Temperature where a superconductor temperature conducts electricity without lost of energy. 123 | Power rating of a__| is defined as 30 J of energy transferred / dissipated in bulb, 240 V, 30W | a second, when the bulb is operates at normal voltage of 240 v, a.c.. 124 [kwh is the electrical energy used when the power of an electrical appliance is 1kW is used for 1 hour. 125 | Electric field is a region which an electrical charge experienced a force. 126 | Effective Sum of resistance In a circuit. R=R, +R, + Ry resistance diajiia ROR, RR Chapter 8: Electromagnetism No |Terms Definition Related ST Unit Formula 127 [electromagnets | is a temporary magnet. it is made by winding a coil of insulated wire round a soft iron core 128 | magneticforce | is exerted on a conductor carrying a current in magnetic field 129 | catapult field the field from the current in conductor and the uniform external field combine to form resultant field known as a catapult field.the magnetic field line wrap round the conductor like the stretched catapult 130 [electromagnetic | when a wire moves and cut magnetic field line an em.fis induction induced across the wire. 131 | Lenz law the direction of the induced current is such that the change producing it will be opposed 132 | Faraday law the magnitude of the induce current is directly proportional to the rate of change or the rate of cutting of the magnetic flux 133 | direct current, d.c. | Generator produces a current which flow in one direction only.134 | alternating Generator produces a current which flow to and fro in two current, a.c opposite direction in the circuit 135. | transformer ‘made up of two coil wound on a soft iron core. The coil Ms connected to a power supply is the primary coil while the Ny other is the secondary coil 136 | step-up supplies an output voltage that is higher than the input transformer voltage 137 | step-down ‘supplies an output voltage that is lower than the output transformer voltage 138 | efficiency the percentage of power input compare to power output. Vout lone 100% Vink 139 [national grid is a network of mostly overhead cables supported on pylons. network The network system receives power from power station and delivers to factory and home. 140 | Magneticfield | is the region where an object experienced magnetic force. Chapter 9: Electronics No | Terms Definition Related STunit Formula 141 | Thermionic @ process involving the emission of a electron from a hot emission metal surface 142_| Cathode ray beams of fast-moving electrons 143 |The cathode-ray _ | a measuring and testing instrument used in the study of oscilloscope electricity and electronics 144 [Conductors ‘materials which allow current to flow through them easily 145 | Insulators ‘materials which do not conduct electrical current 146 | semiconductor | a materials whose resistant is between those of good conductor and those of good insulator 147 | doping a process of adding a small amount of impurities into a crystalline lattice of semiconductor to increase their conductivity 148 | rectification a diode can convert alternating current into direct current 149 | half-wave the process of rectification using a diode which allow current rectification to flow in the half-cycle 150 | full-wave the process of rectification using 4 diode to allow current to rectification flow in the complete cycle and in the same direction 151 | transistor consist of a specially treated semiconductor crystal. ithas3 | Ip = Ip +1 terminal instead of 2. 152 [n-p-ntransistor | consist of a layer of p-type semiconductor sandwiched between two layer of n-type semiconductor 153 | p-n-p transistor | consist of a layer of n-type semiconductor sandwiched between two layer of p-type semiconductor 154 | Togic gate electronic switch with 1 or more input and 1 output only 155 | truth table show the result of every possible output given every possible input 156 | Depletion layer | is form when there is the decrease free electrons and holes around the junction of a diod.(Chapter 10: Radioactivity No |Terms Definition Related Formula 157 | Radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration of an unstable nucleus accompanied by the emission of energetic particles or rays (photons). 158 | isotopes are atoms/elements which have the same proton number but different nucleon numbers. 159 | proton number, Z_| The number of protons ina nucleus. 160 | nucleon number, _ [is the total number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus. It is A also known as the mass number. 161 | Alpha ray nucleus of helium atom. 162 | Beta ray high-energy electron. 163 [Gamma ray high-energy electromagnetic wave 164 | Background count | The background radiation is partly due to the presence ofF radioactive material in the earth and nearby surroundings and partly due to cosmic rays from outer space. 165 | Cosmic ray is the gamma rays from outer space. 166 | Radioactive decay | refers to the process of an unstable nucleus of a radicactive element disintegrate (break-up) in order to become more stable. 167 | Half life is the time taken for the number of atoms to decay te half its initial value. 166 | Nuclear fission __| is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nucle 169 | Chain reaction __| is a self-sustaining reaction in which the products of a reaction can initiate another similar reaction. 170 | Nuclear fusion | is the combining of two lighter nuclei to form a heavier nucleus. 171 | Nuclear energy E= me [ev orf 172 [Atomic mass unit, [unit of mass for atom and subatomic particles suchas [1 66 19 2 gy amuju proton, neutron and electron. 173 | 1u is of the mass of carbon-12 atom. 174 | Critical mass Minimum mass required for a chain reaction to occur, 175 [Somatic effects | appear in the person exposed to radiation. 176 | Genetic effect | appear in the future generations of the exposed person as a result of radiation damage to reproductive cells.