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a.c. generator a device, such as a dynamo, used to axis the line passing through the centre of a lens,
generate alternating current (a.c.) perpendicular to its surface
acceleration the rate of change of an objects velocity background radiation the radiation from the
environment to which we are exposed all the time
acceleration due to gravity the acceleration of an
object falling freely under gravity barometer an instrument used to measure
atmospheric pressure
acceleration of free fall see acceleration due to
gravity battery two or more electrical cells connected
together in series; the word may also be used to
activity the rate at which nuclei decay in a sample of
mean a single cell
a radioactive substance
becquerel (Bq) the SI unit of activity; 1 Bq = one
air resistance the frictional force on an object
decay per second
moving through air
beta decay the decay of a radioactive nucleus by
alpha decay the decay of a radioactive nucleus by emission of a beta particle
emission of an -particle
beta particle (-particle) a particle (an electron)
alpha particle (-particle) a particle of two protons emitted by an atomic nucleus during radioactive decay
and two neutrons emitted by an atomic nucleus
biomass fuel a material, recently living, used as a fuel
during radioactive decay
boiling point the temperature at which a liquid
alternating current (a.c.) electric current that flows
changes to a gas (at constant pressure)
first one way, then the other, in a circuit
Boyles law the law that relates the pressure and
ammeter a meter for measuring electric current
volume of a fixed mass of gas (pV = constant at
amp, ampere (A) the SI unit of electric current constant temperature)
amplitude the greatest height of a wave above its Brownian motion the motion of small particles
undisturbed level suspended in a liquid or gas, caused by molecular
angle of incidence the angle between an incident bombardment
ray and the normal to the surface at the point capacitor a device used for storing energy in an electric
where it meets a surface circuit
angle of reflection the angle between a reflected ray cathode ray a ray of electrons travelling from
and the normal to the surface at the point where it cathode to anode in a vacuum tube
reflects from a surface
cathode-ray oscilloscope a device used to show the
angle of refraction the angle between a refracted ray pattern of a varying voltage
and the normal to the surface at the point where it cell a device that provides a voltage in a circuit by
passes from one material to another means of a chemical reaction
average speed speed calculated from total distance centre of mass the point at which the mass of an
travelled divided by total time taken object can be considered to be concentrated
geothermal energy the energy stored in hot rocks kinetic energy (k.e.) the energy of a moving object
underground kinetic model of matter a model in which matter
gravitational potential energy (g.p.e.) the energy of consists of molecules in motion
an object raised up against the force of gravity lamina a flat object of uniform thickness
gravity the force that exists between any two objects laser a device for producing a narrow beam of light
with mass of a single colour or wavelength
half-life the average time taken for half the atoms in latent heat the energy needed to melt or boil a
a sample of a radioactive material to decay material
hard a material that, once magnetised, is difficult to law of reflection the law relating the angle of
demagnetise incidence of a light ray to the angle of reflection
Hookes law the extension of an object is (i = r)
proportional to the load producing it, provided that light-dependent resistor (LDR) a device whose
the limit of proportionality is not exceeded resistance decreases when light shines on it
image what we see when we view an object by means light-emitting diode (LED) a type of diode that
of reflected or refracted rays emits light when a current flows through it
incident ray a ray of light striking a surface light energy energy emitted in the form of visible
induction a method of giving an object an electric radiation
charge without making contact with another charged light gate a device for recording the passage of a
object moving object when it breaks a light beam
infrared radiation electromagnetic radiation whose limit of proportionality the point beyond which the
wavelength is greater than that of visible light; extension of an object is no longer proportional to
sometimes known as heat radiation the load producing it
negative charge one type of electric charge potential divider a part of a circuit consisting of two
resistors connected in series
neutral having no overall positive or negative electric
charge power the rate at which energy is transferred or work
is done
neutron an electrically neutral particle found in the
atomic nucleus power lines cables used to carry electricity from
power stations to consumers
neutron number (N) the number of neutrons in the
nucleus of an atom pressure the force acting per unit area at right angles
to a surface
newton (N) the SI unit of force
principal focus the point at which rays of light
non-renewable energy resource which, once used, is parallel to the axis converge after passing through a
gone forever converging lens
normal the line drawn at right angles to a surface at principle of conservation of energy the total energy
the point where a ray strikes the surface of interacting objects is constant provided no external
nuclear energy energy stored in the nucleus of an atom force acts
radiocarbon dating a technique that uses the known ripple a small, uniform wave on the surface of water
rate of decay of radioactive carbon-14 to find the scalar quantity a quantity that has only magnitude
approximate age of an object made from dead slip rings a device used to allow current to flow to
organic material and from the coil of an a.c. motor or generator
radioisotope a radioactive isotope of an element
Snells law the law that relates the angles of incidence
random process a process that happens at a sin i
random rate rather than at a steady rate; in and refraction: refractive index =
sin r
radioactive decay, it is impossible to predict which soft describes a material that, once magnetised, can
atom will be the next to decay, or when a given easily be demagnetised
atom will decay
solar cell an electrical device that transfers the
rarefaction a region of a sound wave where the energy of sunlight directly to electricity, by
particles are further apart producing a voltage when light falls on it
ray diagram a diagram showing the paths of typical solenoid a coil of wire that becomes magnetised
rays of light when a current flows through it
real image an image that can be formed on screen sound energy energy being transferred in the form
rectifier an electric circuit in which one or more of sound waves
diodes are used to convert alternating current to sound wave a wave that carries sound from place to
direct current place
reflected ray a ray of light that has been reflected specific heat capacity (s.h.c.) a measure of how
after striking a surface much thermal (heat) energy a material can hold
reflection the change in direction of a ray of light specific latent heat the energy required to melt or
when it strikes a surface without passing through it boil 1 kg of a substance
refracted ray a ray of light that has changed direction spectrum waves, or colours of light, separated out in
on passing from one material to another order according to their wavelengths
refraction the bending of a ray of light on passing speed the distance travelled by an object in unit
from one material to another time
transformer a device used to change the voltage of wavefront a line joining adjacent points on a wave
an a.c. electricity supply that are all in step with each other
transistor an electrical component that can act as an wavelength the distance between adjacent crests (or
electronic switch troughs) of a wave
transverse wave a wave in which the vibration is at weight the downward force of gravity that acts on an
right angles to the direction in which the wave is object because of its mass
travelling work done the amount of energy transferred when
trip switch a device used to protect an electric circuit one body exerts a force on another; the energy
in case of an electrical fault transferred by a force when it moves