Definitions

Ch.1 : Measurement
Physical Quantities Quantities which can be measured

Base Quantities Quantities which cannot be derived in terms of other physical quantities

Quantities which can be derived from base quantities by multiplication or division or both
Derived Quantities
operations
Scalar Quantities Quantities which have only magnitude

Vector Quantities Quantities which have magnitude and direction

Ch. 2 : Force and Motion (1)

Distance The total length of path between the initial and final positions

The shortest distance between the initial position and final position in a specific
Displacement
direction
Speed Rate of change of distance travelled

Velocity Rate of change of displacement

Acceleration Rate of change of velocity

Free Fall A condition where an object falls due to gravitational pull only

Inertia The tendency of an object to oppose any changes to its original state

Newton’s First Law of Motion An object will remain at rest or move at uniform velocity in straight line unless acted
(Law of Inertia) by an external force
Momentum Product of mass and velocity

Principle of Conservation of
Total momentum of a system is conserved if there is no external force
Momentum

Newton’s Second Law of Rate of change of momentum is directly proportional to the force and acts in the
Motion (Momentum) direction of the applied force

Newton’s Third Law of Motion For every action, there is a reaction force of equal magnitude but act in opposite
(Impulsive Force) direction

Impulse Change of momentum

Impulsive Force Rate of change of momentum

Weight Gravitational force acting on an object

Mass Quantity of matter in an object

Gravitational Field A region where an object experience gravitational force

Gravitational Field Strength Gravitational force acting per unit mass

Definitions 1
 Ch. 3 : Gravitation
The gravitational force between two bodies is directly proportional to the product of the
Newton’s Universal
massed of both bodies and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the
Law of Gravitation
centres of the two bodies
For a body in circular motion, a force acts on the body in a direction towards the centre of the
Centripetal Force
circle

Kepler’s First Law

All planets move in elliptical orbit with the Sun at one focus
(Law of Orbits)
Kepler’s Second Law
A line that connects a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
(Law of Areas)
Kepler’s Third Law The square of the orbital period of any planet is directly proportional to the cube of the radius
(Law of Periods) of its orbit
Geostationary Satellite The satellite that is always above the same geographical location when view from the Earth

Non-Geostationary The satellite that is always above different geographical location at different times when view
Satellite from the Earth
The minimum velocity needed by an object on the surface of the Earth to overcome the
Escape Velocity
gravitational force and escape to outer space

Ch. 4 : Heat
Heat A type of energy that flow from high temperature to low temperature object

Temperature Degree of hotness

Thermal A situation where two objects in thermal contact having the same temperature and the net heat
Equilibrium flow between the two objects is zero
Heat Capacity Quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of the object by 1°C

Specific Heat
Quantity of heat needed to change the temperature of 1kg mass of the substance by 1°C
Capacity

Definitions 2