Cambridge A Level Physics

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Definitions
A combination of markscheme answers and textbook definitions.

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AS Level Physics Terms & Concepts

Here's a useful set of flashcards for AS revision:

https://quizlet.com/356145378/as-level-physics-definitions-cie-flash-cards/

https://quizlet.com/527383170/cie-as-level-physics-definitions-flash-cards/

Lvl Ch Term Definition

Some combination of the base units. The base units may
AS 1 Derived Units be multiplied together or divided by one another, but never
added or subtracted.
Homogeneous When each term has the same base units, the equation is
AS 1
Units said to be homogeneous or ‘balanced’.
AS 1 Scalar A quantity that has magnitude/size
AS 1 Vector A quantity that has magnitude/size and direction
How close a reading is to its true value. When readings are
AS 1 Accuracy accurate, the peak / average value moves towards the true
value
Smallest change in value that can be measured by an
instrument. OR Spread of values / measurements (scatter
AS 1 Precision
between each data is relatively small/ lines are closer
together / sharper peak)
Readings have positive and negative values around the
AS 1 Random errors peak value / values are scattered / wide range. To reduce
errors, take several readings to get an average value.
The average / peak is not the true value / the readings are
AS 1 Systematic Error not centred around the true value. Look/check for zero
:
 error to avoid systematic error.

The range of value within which a measurement is likely to

AS 1 Uncertainty
be in.
Acceleration
AS 2 Rate of change of velocity.
(vector)
Displacement is the straight line distance between start and finish points
AS 2
(vector) (in that direction) / minimum distance
AS 2 Distance (scalar) is the actual path travelled
The downward motion of an object under the influence of
AS 2 Free Fall force of gravity with a constant acceleration (g = 9.81 ms-
2).
Objects acted upon by a force with vector at perpendicular
AS 2 Projectile motion to its horizontal velocity. Asume zero frictional forces.
Tracjectory of the object will result in a parabola.
AS 2 Speed (scalar) Distance travelled per unit time taken
Constant speed of object when resultant force is zero due
AS 2 Terminal velocity
to large air resistance.
AS 2 Velocity (vector) Rate of change of displacement
Total momentum of (an isolated) system (of interacting
Conservation Of
AS 3 bodies) remains constant, provided there are no resultant
Momentum
external forces (e.g. friction)
Total momentum and total Kinetic Energy of a system is
AS 3 Elastic Collisions conserved. Relative speed of approach is equal to the
relative speed of separation
AS 3 Force Rate of change of momentum
AS 3 Force It is defined as the rate of change of momentum of a body
It is the product of a force & the time during which the force
AS 3 Impulse
is applied.
Total momentum of a system is conserved, but the total
AS 3 Inelastic Collisions Kinetic Energy is not conserved. Speed before impact is
not equal to speed
Product of an object's mass & velocity, with its direction
AS 3 Linear Momentum
always being the same as the direction of velocity.
It is a measure of inertia of a body or the property of a body
AS 3 Mass
that resists change in motion
A body remains at rest or constant velocity unless acted on
AS 3 Newton’s 1st Law
by a resultant (external) force
The (resultant) force is proportional to the rate of change of
AS 3 Newton’s 2nd Law
momentum
If one body exerts a force on another, it will experience a
:
AS 3 Newton’s 3rd Law force by the other body, which is equal in magnitude &
opposite in direction. Both forces are the of the same kind.
AS 3 Weight Weight is the force due to the gravitational field
The point on an object at which the entire weight of the
AS 4 Centre Of Gravity body seemingly acts. It is the point at which the Earth
actually applies the pull of gravity.
AS 4 Density Amount of mass per unit volume of a substance.
Net / resultant force and moment is zero (OR sum of
clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments). If
AS 4 Equilibrium
the triangle of forces is ‘closed’ then there is no resultant
force and the object is in equilibrium.
Product of the force and the perpendicular distance to the
AS 4 Moment / Torque
pivot
AS 4 Pressure The perpendicular/normal force applied per unit area
The sum of the clockwise moments about a point equals
Principle Of
AS 4 the sum of the anticlockwise moments (about the same
Moments
point)
Product of one of the forces and perpendicular distance
Torque Of A
AS 4 between forces. (The turning effect caused by two equal &
Couple
opposite forces when their line of actions are different.)
It is the resultant force on a submerged object due to
pressure difference between the higher pressure at the
AS 4 Upthrust
bottom of the object and the lower pressure at the top of
the object immersed in a fluid.
AS 5 Energy It is the stored ability to do work.
Product of a force & the distance moved in the direction of
AS 5 Work Done
the force.
Gravitational
AS 5 Energy stored due to height/position of mass
Potential Energy
It is the total of the microscopic Kinetic & Potential energies
AS 5 Internal Energy
of particles of a material.
AS 5 Kinetic Energy Energy of an object due to its motion.
AS 5 Potential Energy Energy stored by an object to do work
Elastic Potential Energy stored due to deformation or change in shape of an
AS 5
Energy object
Electric potential Potential energy (stored) when charge moved due to work
AS 5
energy done in electric field
AS 5 Power Rate of work done
The fraction of the useful power output obtained from the
AS 5 Efficiency
total power input.
:
AS 6 Brittle Materials Materials which do not undergo plastic deformation. Force
proportional to extension until it breaks
Materials which undergo plastic deformation after a
considerable elastic deformation. Initially force proportional
AS 6 Ductile Materials
to extension then a large extension for small change in
force
Elastic Object returns to its original length (zero extension) when
AS 6
Deformation load is removed
The area under such a graph is the work done in stretching
a material. For the straight-line portion of the graph, it is a
Force-Extension measure of the elastic potential energy stored by the
AS 6
Graph material, provided that the graph for decreasing loads is the
same as that for increasing loads. It is also known as strain
energy.
Force/load is proportional to extension/compression if
AS 6 Hooke's Law
proportionality limit is not exceeded.
When a sufficiently large force is applied, localized
AS 6 Necking narrowing occurs at weak points, & the wire eventually
breaks at one of these points.
Plastic Wire/body object does not return to its original shape /
AS 6
Deformation length when load is removed
Polymeric Materials which can undergo great strain, & deform to a
AS 6
Materials very great degree. E.g. rubber, glass, cement
Extension over original length (ratio). Stress is the cause &
AS 6 Strain
strain is the effect.
It is the force per unit cross-section area required to stretch
AS 6 Stress
a material.
Ultimate Tensile The maximum force / original cross-sectional area the wire
AS 6
Strength is able to support before it breaks
Ultimate Tensile The maximum value of stress that an object can sustain
AS 6
Stress before it breaks.
AS 6 Young’s Modulus Ratio of stress to strain.
The transfer or propagation of energy as a result of
AS 7 Progressive wave
oscillations / vibrations
A wave in which displacement of particles is perpendicular
to the direction of wave propagation, resulting in crests &
AS 7 Transverse Waves
troughs. Transverse waves have vibrations that are
perpendicular / normal to the direction of energy travel
A wave in which displacement of particles is parallel to the
Longitudinal
AS 7 direction of wave propagation. Longitudinal waves have
Waves
vibrations that are parallel to the direction of energy travel
Distance moved by wave energy / wavefront during one
:
AS 7 Wavelength cycle of the source or minimum distance between two
points with the same phase or between adjacent crests or
troughs.
AS 7 Frequency (Hz) Number of oscillations per unit time (not per second)
The time taken to complete one oscillation/cycle. Or time
AS 7 Period
between adjacent wavefonts.
AS 7 Amplitude Maximum displacement of a particle in the wave
AS 7 Displacement Distance (of point on wave) from rest / equilibrium position
The difference in the relative positions of the crests or
AS 7 Phase Difference troughs of two waves of the same frequency expressed in
radians or degrees.
The intensity of a wave is the energy passing through unit
AS 7 (Wave) Intensity
area per unit time.
Speed at which energy is transferred / speed of wavefront.
AS 7 (Wave) Speed
It is NOT the speed with which particles in the wave move.
Change in observed frequency when source moves relative
AS 7 Doppler Effect
to the observer
electromagnetic waves (a transverse wave) can travel
Electromagnetic through a vacuum / free space. The displacement in the
AS 7
Waves case of electromagnetic waves is a variation in the electric
& magnetic fields perpendicular to each other.
Oscillations or vibrations are in one direction, perpendicular
AS 7 Polarisation
to direction of propagation.
The transfer of energy is due to a progressive wave, NOT a
AS 8 Transfer of Energy
standing/stationary wave.
Two waves with a constant phase difference are said to be
AS 8 Coherence
coherent.
When two waves of the with similar frequency &amp
Principle of
AS 8 meet/overlap, the resultant displacement is the sum of the
Superposition
individual displacement of each wave.
AS 8 Node Position along wave with no motion / zero amplitude
AS 8 Antinode Position along wave with maximum amplitude.
Constructive Two waves' path difference is either λ or nλ, OR phase
AS 8
Interference difference is 360°or n ×360° or n2π
Destructive Two waves' path difference is either λ/2 or (n+ ½) λ OR
AS 8
Interference phase difference is odd multiple of either 180° or π rad
Two waves of same frequency/wavelength travelling (along
the same line) in opposite directions overlap/meet. The
AS 8 Stationary Waves
resultant displacement is the sum of displacements of each
wave / produces nodes and antinodes
Does not transfer energy (no energy transfer). The
:
AS 8 Stationary Wave amplitude of standing wave varies along its length/nodes
Properties and antinodes.Neighboring points (in inter-nodal loop)
vibrate in phase
Fringe The separation between one bright fringe & the next bright
AS 8
Width/Separation fringe.
When two waves superpose/overlap, the resultant
displacement is the sum of individual displacements of
AS 8 Interference
overlapping waves, forming alternating maxima and
minima.
When a wave (front) passes by/incident on an edge/slit, the
AS 8 Diffraction
wave spreads into the geometrical shadow
When waves pass through the gaps / slits in the grating,
AS 8 Diffraction Grating
the wave bends/spreads (into the geometrical shadow)
AS 8 Refraction The change in direction of a wave due to change in speed.
If a charge of 1 Coulomb passes through an electrical
AS 9 Ampere component per second, then the current maintained is 1
Ampere
AS 9 Charge Charge = current x time
The SI unit of electrical charge. A charge of 1C passes a
AS 9 Coulomb
point when a current of 1A flows for 1s.
It is the amount of charge flowing pass a point per unit
AS 9 Electric Current
time.Or rate of flow of charged particles.
AS 9 Ohm volt/ampere
The current through a metallic conductor is proportional to
AS 9 Ohm’s Law the P.D across it provided that its temperature remains
constant.
Potential Energy converted from electrical to other forms of energy
AS 9
Difference per unit charge that passes through it.
Charge only exists in discrete amounts. Charge on carriers
AS 9 Quantised
is quantised.
The ratio of P.D over the current for an electrical
AS 9 Resistance
component
The resistivity of a wire of a particular material is its
AS 9 Resistivity
resistance for unit length.
A specific type of resistor, in which, as temperature
AS 9 Thermistor increases, the magnitude of the resistor’s resistance
decreases, & vice versa.
P.D between two points in a circuit in which 1J of energy is
AS 9 Volt converted when 1C of charge passes from one point to the
other.
While e.m.f refers to the amount of energy converted into
electrical energy per unit charge supplied, P.D refers to the
:
 amount of electrical energy converted into other forms of
AS 10 E.m.f & P.D
energy per unit charge supplied. The e.m.f of a source is
equal to the potential difference across its terminals as the
current approaches zero.
Electromotive Energy converted from chemical into electrical energy per
AS 10
Force unit charge.
(resistance of the cell) causing loss of voltage or energy
AS 10 Internal Resistance
loss in cell
The sum of currents into a junction = sum of currents out of
AS 10 Kirchhoff’s 1st Law junction, Because charge cannot be created or destroyed
(conservation of charge).
Sum of e.m.f.’s = sum of p.d.’s around a loop/circuit.
Kirchhoff’s 2nd Because any gains in electrical energy of a charge must be
AS 10
Law balanced by corresponding losses of energy (conservation
of energy).
Law of Kirchhoff’s First & Second Laws are in correspondence &
AS 10 Conservation of actually are an appreciation of the Law of Conservation of
Charge Charge & the Law of Conservation of Energy respectively.
A battery delivers the maximum power to a circuit when the
load resistance of the circuit is equal to the internal
resistance of the battery. When load resistance is zero,
Output Power
10 power dissipated by load is zero because P=I^2R. When
(Circuit)
load resistance is very large, power dissipated gets very
small as the current through the load is reduced
significantly.
When a potential divider arrangement is used to compare
AS 10 Potentiometer
e.m.fs of two sources, it is known a potentiometer.
Either helium nucleus OR particle containing two protons
and two neutrons with mass 4u. Radiation can be deflected
AS 11 Alpha particle
in electric/magnetic fields, and absorbed by thin paper or
few cm of air. Radiation is highly ionizing.
A type of hadron particle that is made up of three quarks
11 Baryon
(e.g. proton and neutron).
Produced due to weak nuclear force/interaction. β-particles
are fast moving electrons with a range of speeds up to
AS 11 Beta Particle 0.99c. This radiation can be deflected by electric and
magnetic fields or negatively charged, and absorbed by few
(1 – 4) mm of aluminum. 0.5 to 2m for range in air.
γ- radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum with
AS 11 Gamma Radiation
wavelengths between 10^(-11) m and 10^(-13) m.
Class of heavy particles made up of quarks held together
11 Hadron by strong nuclear force. Hadron is not a fundamental
particle.
:
 Atoms (same element) which have the same proton
AS 11 Isotopes number, but a different nucleon number / number of
neutrons.
11 Meson A type of hadron particle that is made up of two quarks.
The number of protons together with the number of
Nucleon (mass)
AS 11 neutrons in the nucleus is called the nucleon number (or
Number
mass number) A
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom ( aka
AS 11 Proton Number
atomic number) Z
The simple model of the atom is made up of three sub-
atomic particles: The proton (which is positively charged),
the neutron (which is uncharged but equal in mass to the
AS 11 The Atom
proton), & the electron (which is negatively charged &
equal to the charge on the proton, but much smaller in size
& mass).

Jump to sections:
[AS Chapters][A2 Chapters]

===================

A2 Level Physics Terms & Concepts

Useful set of flashcards for A2 revision
https://quizlet.com/392317817/cie-physics-a-level-definitions-flash-cards/

Lvl Ch Term Definition

Angular
A2 12 the angle through which the object has moved
displacement
angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc of length
A2 12 Radian
equal to the radius of the circle
A2 12 Angular velocity rate of change of angular displacement
Angular
A2 12 rate of change of angular velocity
acceleration
any two point masses attract each other a force that is
Newton’s Law of
A2 13 directly proportional to the product of their masses and
Gravitation
inversely proportional to the square of the separation
Gravitational field gravitational force exerted per unit mass on a small object
A2 13
strength, g placed at that point
A2 13 Field of force A region of space where a force acts (on a particle of
certain property)
:
A2 13 Gravitational work done per unit mass in bringing unit mass from infinity
potential to the point
Orbit in which a satellite is positioned so that it orbits the
Geostationary
A2 13 Earth the same rate as the Earth’s rotation. Satellite
orbits
remains above a fixed point on the Earth’s surface
amount of that substance which contains the same number
A2 15 Mole
of particles as there are in 0.012 kg of carbon-12
Avogadro's
A2 15 amoung of carbon-12 atoms in 12g of Carbon-12
constant
pressure exerted by a fixed mass of gas is inversely
A2 15 Boyle’s law proportional to its volume, provided the temperature of gas
remains constant
temperature acting on a fixed mass of gas is directly
A2 15 Charles’ Law proportional to its volume, provided the pressure of gas
remains constant
A2 15 Ideal gas Gas that behaves and obeys all law
a condition when two or more objects in contact have the
Thermal
A2 14 same temperature so that there is no net flow of thermal
Equilibrium
energy
device consisting of wires of two different metals across
A2 14 Thermocouple which an emf is produced when the two junctions of the
wires are at different temperature
Amount of average kinetic energy of particles, and shows
A2 14 Temperature
direction of net heat flow between two bodies in contact.
Standard reference temperatures that are used when
A2 14 Fixed points
calibrating thermometers.
A2 14 Absolute zero Temperature at which atoms have minimum or zero energy.
Uses fixed points as upper/lower points and assumes a
A2 14 Calibration
linear change of property with temperature.
Thermodynamic /
A2 14 Scale does not depend on the property of a substance
Absolute Scale
sum of the random distribution of kinetic and potential
A2 16 Internal energy
energies of its atoms or molecules
the increase in internal energy of a body is equal to the
First Law of
A2 16 thermal energy transferred to it by heating plus the
Thermodynamics
mechanical work done on it
Heat / Thermal energy transferred from one object to another because of
A2 14
Energy temperature difference. Increases internal energy.
Specific heat energy required per unit mass of the substance to raise the
A2 14 capacity temperature by 1 K or 1°C

energy required per kilogram of the substance to change its

:
A2 14 Specific latent heat state without any change in temperature

Specific latent heat energy required per kilogram of a substance to change it

A2 14
of fusion from solid to liquid without a change in temperature
Specific latent heat energy required per kilogram of a substance to change it
A2 14
of vaporisation from liquid to gas without a change in temperature
The process by which a liquid changes into its gaseous
state at a constant specific temperature, known as boiling
A2 14 Boiling point. Heat energy goes towards overcoming intermolecular
forces to move the atoms far enough so that interatomic
forces and potential energy are negligible.
The haphazard or random movement of tiny suspended
A2 16 Brownian Motion particles (such as smoke, pollen etc.) in a fluid is known as
Brownian Motion.
The process by which molecules on the surface of a liquid
with sufficient Kinetic Energy break from the attractive
A2 14 Evaporation intermolecular forces of the liquid & escape as gas
particles. This process occurs below the boiling point of a
liquid.
The molecules are in rapid, random motion. Collisions
between gas molecules/container wall are elastic.
Intermolecular forces of repulsion only act during collisions
Kinetic Theory Of between the molecules. The duration of collisions as
A2 16
Gases: compared to the time interval between collisions is
negligible. The volume that the molecules themselves take
up is negligible in comparison to the volume of the container
itself.
The process by which a solid changes into its liquid state at
a constant specific temperature, known as melting point.
A2 14 Melting Heat energy is used to overcome rigid forces between
atoms. Potential energy increases, but kinetic energy is
constants.
A2 17 Amplitude maximum displacement from the equilibrium position
A2 17 Period time taken to complete one complete cycle
Acceleration is directly proportional to its displacement from
Simple Harmonic its equilibrium position, and always directed towards
A2 17
motion equilibrium position. Acceleration and displacement are
both in opposite directions.
oscillations/amplitude/energy decreases through time due
A2 17 Damping
to friction/external forces/loose to surrounding
Fundamental
A2 17 frequency the lowest frequency stationary wave for a particular system
:
A2 17 Natural frequency the unforced frequency of oscillation of a freely oscillating
object
oscillation caused by an external driving force whose
A2 17 Forced oscillation
frequency equal to that of the driving force
oscillation whose frequency is the natural frequency of the
A2 17 Free oscillation
oscillator.
System forced to vibrate close to its natural frequency, the
amplitude of vibration increases rapidly. Frequency of
A2 17 Resonance
external force equals to the natural frequency, and
amplitude is maximum.
Acoustic product of the density of a substance and the speed of
A2 24
impedance sound in that substance
Impedance reduction in intensity of reflected ultrasound at the boundary
A2 24
matching between two substances
A2 24 Transducer device that changes one form of energy into another
Exponential decrease of wave intensity/power/amplitude as
A2 24 Attenuation it travels a distance in a medium due to energy absorption
by medium
Reflection Fraction/percentage of wave intensity reflected at a
A2 24
coefficient boundary between mediums of different impedance
process of using one waveform to alter the frequency,
A2 Modulation
amplitude or phase of another waveform
a waveform that is modulated with an input signal to carry
A2 Carrier wave
information
Amplitude Amplitude of a carrier wave is made to vary in synchrony
A2
modulation (AM) with the displacement of the information signal.
Frequency Frequency of a carrier wave is made to vary in synchrony
A2
modulation (FM) with the displacement of the information signal.
measure of the width of a range of frequencies being
A2 Bandwidth
transmitted
band of frequencies above or below the carrier frequency
A2 Sidebands
produced as a result of modulation
signal that is continuously variable, having a continuum of
A2 Analogue signal
possible values
A2 Digital signal signal that has only a few possible values, often two
conversion of a continuous analogue signal to discrete
A2 ADC
digital numbers
conversion of a series of digital numbers into a continuous
A2 DAC
analogue signal
basic unit of information storage stored by a device that
A2 Bit
exists in only two distinct states
:
A2 Noise Unwanted power on signal that is random
restoring a signal to its original form/ removing noise/
A2 Regeneration
increasing signal strength
A2 Attenuation Loss in power or intensity of a signal
receiver and transmitter used to maintain contact with a
A2 Base station
number if mobile phones in a local area
a switching centre connecting all the base stations in an
A2 Cellular exchange
area
electrical cable with an inner conductor surrounded by a
A2 Coaxial cable
tubular insulating layer and an outside conducting layer
logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the relative
A2 Decibel
sizes of two powers
Area / region of space where a charge experiences an
AS Electric Field
electric force.
Line spacing represents electric field strength. The lines of
Electric Field lines force start on a positive charge, and end on a negative
charge, and never touch or cross.
any two point charges exert an electrical force on each
other that is proportional to the product of their charges and
A2 18 Coulomb’s law
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them
a charge of 1 C passes a point when a current of 1 A flows
A2 18 Coulomb
for 1 s.
work done per unit positive test charge in bringing it from
A2 18 Electric potential
infinity to that point
A2 18 Field of force A region of space where a force acts on a charged particle
Electric field
A2 18 Electric force per unit positive test charge
strength
Ratio of charge stored in one plate of a capacitor to the
A2 19 Capacitance
potential difference across capacitor
Detects or monitor physical properties and converts it into
AS 9 Sensing Device
an electrical property
Operates on signal from sensing devices and gives an
A2 Processing Unit
output votlage signal
A circuit to compare the inverting and non-inverting input of
A2 Comparator
op-amp
Negative Process where a fraction of output is combined to the input.
A2 Feedback This output fraction is subtracted from the input (because
output is 180° out-of-phase with input)
A circuit to produce an output signal that is proportional to
:
A2 Inverting Amplifier the input signal where the output signal has the OPPOSITE
sign/polarity as input signal.
A circuit to produce an output signal that is proportional to
Non-inverting
A2 the input signal where the output signal has the SAME
Amplifier
sign/polarity as input signal.
A point in the circuit where potential is zero. If non-inverting
input (V+) is grounded, so inverting input (V-) must also be
A2 Virtual earth 0V so that the op-amp does not saturate. Gain of op-amp is
infinite, so any difference between the inputs saturates the
output.
A region of space where a magnetic pole, current-carrying
A2 20 Magnetic field
conductor, or moving charge experiences a magnetic force
Force per unit length of a straight conductor carrying 1A
Magnetic flux
A2 20 current normal to a uniform magnetic field. Or force per unit
density
charge travelling at right-angles to a uniform magnetic field.
when a wire carrying a current of 1 A placed at right angles
A2 20 Tesla to the magnetic field experiences a force of 1 N per metre of
its length
Rotation of nuclei about the direction of magnetic field due
A2 Precession
to its spin.
Angular frequency along the nuclear spin axis that rotates
A2 Larmor frequency
in a horizontal circle.
Pulse of radio frequency at Larmor frequency that causes
A2 Nuclear resonance protons to absorb energy and flip into a high energy state
temporarily.
time taken for the nuclei to fall back to their lower energy
A2 Relaxation time
state
the induced emf is proportional to the rate of change of
A2 20 Faraday’s law
magnetic flux linkage
Direction of induced current creates a magnetic field that
A2 20 Lenz’s Law
opposes the change causing it
Magnetic flux
A2 20 product of magnetic flux and the number of turns
linkage
product of magnetic flux density normal to a circuit and the
A2 20 Magnetic flux
cross-sectional area of the circuit
Induced currents in large conductors (e.g. iron cores) that
A2 20 Eddy currents dissipate electrical energy as thermal energy (heat).
Reduced by laminating the conductor.
A2 21 rms current Value of direct current that produces same mean power or
heating as the alternating current in a resistor

reduction in the range/variation of output voltage or current

A2 21 smoothing
so that output does not fall to zero
:
 Changes the magnitude of potential difference (by mutual
A2 21 Ideal transformer
inductance of two coils) with no power loss in transformer
Easily magnetized and demagnetized material to
concentrate the magnetic flux and imncrease flux linkage.
A2 21 Soft iron core
Can be laminated to reduce energy loss due to eddy
currents
A2 22 Photons little packets of energy of electromagnetic wave/energy
Absorption line a dark line of a unique wavelength seen in a continuous
A2 22
spectrum spectrum
Emission line a sharp and bright line of a unique wavelength seen in a
A2 22
spectrum spectrum
the energy gained by an electron travelling through a p.d. of
A2 22 Electronvolt
1 V.
A2 22 Elementary charge the smallest unit of charge that a particle can have
Emission of electrons from a surface when electromagnetic
A2 22 Photoelectric effect
radiation is incident on the surface.
Threshold minimum frequency required to release electrons from the
A2 22
frequency surface of a metal
minimum amount of energy required by an electron to
A2 22 Work function
escape its surface
DeBroglie
A2 22 wavelength of a particle that is moving
wavelength
Atoms close together causes discrete energy levels in each
A2 Energy band isolated atom to spread out and form an energy band in a
solid.
Substance where the valence band overlaps with
conduction band, and electrons inside conduction bad are
A2 Conductor available charge carriers. Lattice vibration due to higher
temperatures hinders the movement of charge carriers and
causes resistance to increase.
Substance where the empty conduction band and valence
band (fully occupied by electrons) are separate by a narrow
forbidden band. A higher temperature or light intensity gives
A2 Semiconductor
energy to electrons to jump into the conduction band.
Increase of charge carriers (electons in CB and holes in VB)
causes decrease in resistance.
A2 24 Braking radiation X-rays produced when electrons are decelerated
Characteristic very intense X-rays produced in an X-ray tube having
A2 24 radiation specific wavelengths that depend on the target metal

parallel-sided beam of radiation where area of beam is

A2 24 Collimated beam
constant
:
A2 24 Contrast media Used to review the outlines or edges of soft tissues in an X-
ray image. Materials that easily absorb X-rays
Exponential decrease of wave intensity/power/amplitude as
A2 24 Attenuation it travels a distance in a medium due to energy absorption
by medium
small cube in a 3D picture, the equivalent of a pixel in a 2D
A2 24 Voxel
picture
Same atomic number but different nucleon number. Same
A2 23 Isotopes
number of proton but different number of neutron
One type of nucleus with a particular nucleon number and a
A2 23 Nuclide
particular proton number
tiny central region of the atom that contains most of the
A2 23 Nucleus
mass of the atom and all of its positive charge
A2 23 Rest mass mass when it is stationary
A2 23 Einstein’s Equation mass of system increases when energy is supplied to it
difference between total mass of the individual, separate
A2 23 Mass defect
nucleons and the mass of the nucleus
minimum energy needed to pull a nucleus apart into its
A2 23 Binding energy
separate nucleons
Random and spontaneous emission of particles
A2 23 Radioactive decay (alpha/beta) and electromagnetic radiation (gamma) by an
unstable nucleus
A2 23 Random difficult to predict which nuclei would decay
A2 23 Spontaneous nuclei will decay without any external factors
mean time taken for half the number of active nuclei in a
A2 23 Half-life
radioactive sample to decay
A2 23 Decay constant probability of an isotope decaying per unit time interval
the splitting of a nucleus into two large fragments and a
A2 23 Nuclear fission
small number of neutrons
a nuclear reaction where two light nuclei join together to
A2 23 Nuclear fusion
form a heavier but more stable nucleus

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