IB Physics SL Definitions

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1. 1MeV the KE an electron would gain 13. Anti-nodes points at which crest meets crest
if it was accelerated through a (trough & trough)
potential difference of 1 000
14. Artificial the result of bombarding a target
000 V
(Induced) material/particle with high-energy
2. The 3 types of Sensors 1) LDR (Light Dependent Transmutation particles to form a new element
Resistor)
15. Attributes of a -thickness of arrow is proportional to
Light increases, Current
Sankey the amount of energy
increases, Resistance
Diagram -degraded energy points away from the
decreases
main flow of energy
2) Thermistors (NTC - Negative
-total energy in = total energy out
Temperature Coefficient)
Temperature increases, Current 16. Avogadro The number of particles in a mole.
increases, Resistance constant A=6.02x10^23
decreases 17. Becquerel (Bq) a unit of activity, measured as counts
3) Strain Gauge (length per second
increases when under strain)
18. Beta (+) Decay the process by which a proton decays
Length increases, cross-
into a neutron, a beta particle (positron)
sectional Area decreases,
and a neutrino
Resistance increases
19. Beta (-) Decay the process by which a neutron decays
3. Absolute Zero The lowest temperature
into a proton, beta particle (electron)
possible. -273˚C or 0K
and an antineutrino
4. Acceleration rate of change of velocity (with
20. Binding the amount of energy required to split
time), a vector
Energy (+ per apart or assemble the parts of a
unit: ms⁻²
Nucleon) nucleus (+ per nucleon)
5. Accuracy A measurement is said to be unit: MeV
accurate if it has little
21. Black-body radiation emitted by a "perfect" emitter
systematic errors
Radiation (emissivity = 1), which will absorb all
6. Albedo (of a body) is the ratio between incoming radiation
the power of radiation reflected
22. Centripetal The acceleration, directed toward the
(or scattered) from the body to
Acceleration centre of a circle, which causes uniform
the total power incident on it
circular motion
7. Alpha Decay the process by which a
23. Centripetal The force, directed toward the centre of
daughter nucleus and an alpha
Force a circle, which causes uniform circular
particle are formed
acceleration.
8. Ammeter (3) the device that measures
24. Centripetal direction is always changing therefore,
current
motion so is acceleration and velocity
1) placed in series
(concepts)
2) very low resistance
3) in Amperes 25. Coefficient of the coefficient that determines the
friction amount of friction. This varies
9. Ampere (defined in the force between two long
tremendously based on the surfaces in
terms of) current carrying wires
contact. There are no units for the
10. Amplitude The maximum value for coefficient of either static or kinetic
displacement from the mid friction
point.
26. Coefficient of the fractional change in volume per
unit: m
Volume degree change in temperature
11. Angle of deviation the difference between the Expansion (β) β=∆V/V₀∆T
angle of refraction and angle of (+ equation)
incidence
27. Combined Gas P1V1T2 = P2V2T1 (# of molecules kept
12. Antineutrino/Neutrino the energies given off in beta Laws (not constant)
decay Molecular) or (P1V1)/T1 = (P2V2)/T2
28. Compression Highest and lowest pressure points 42. Difference emf is the energy available per unit
& Rarefaction (points bunched up vs. spread apart) between emf charge, p.d. is the difference in energy
and (terminal) dissipate per unit of charge
29. Concept of the ratio of the useful energy to the total
potential
Efficiency energy transferred
difference
unit: none (%)
43. Difference specific heat is per unit mass, so
30. Condensation Gas-liquid
between thermal is the same as specific heat,
31. Conductor Material through which electric charge Thermal and multiplied by mass
flows freely. Specific Heat
32. Constructive in phase Capacity
interference 44. Diffraction takes place when a wave moves
33. Control Rods the material, which absorbs excess through a smaller opening (causes
neutrons in order to control the energy diffraction)
released in chain reactions. They are 45. Direction of a Direction that the North pole of a small
introduced into the moderator when Magnetic Field test compass would point if placed in
needed. the field (North to South).
34. Coulomb's The electric force between two point 46. Displacement the change in position of an object, as
Law charges is directly proportional to the (Topic 2) a vector (magnitude and direction)
product of the two charges and inversely unit: meters
proportional to square of the distance
47. Displacement Distance from the equillibrium
between them, and directed along the
(Topic 4) unit: m
line joining the two charges (F = kq₁q₂ /
r²). 48. Elastic KE and momentum conserved - no
Collision mechanical energy lost
35. Crest & Highest and lowest points of a
ex: pool balls, ideal gas particles
Trough transverse wave
49. Electrical 1) total power supplied by the cell : EI
36. Critical Mass the minimum mass (of Uranium-235)
Powers (3) 2) the power dissipated in the cell : EI -
that must be present so that neutrons
VI = I^2 r
can cause a chain reaction
3) the power dissipate in the external
37. Damping Damping is a force that is always in the circuit: VI
(Light & opposite direction to the direction of
50. Electric a flow of charge within a conductor
Critical) motion of the oscillating particle, the
Current unit: Amperes
force is a dissipate force (it will
eventually stop). 51. Electric Field Electric force per unit charge
Light: gradual loss of total energy (ex: air Strength (E) experienced by a small positive test
resistance, water) charge
Critical: resistive forces so big that (E=F/q)
system returns to equilibrium without 52. Electric Work done per unit charge moving a
passing it (ex: in honey) Potential small positive test charge in from
38. Daughter the substance that is formed from the infinity to a point in an electric field
Product parent product in the nuclear reaction (Note: The work done is path
independent).
39. Degraded the output energy that is not useful
Energy towards the function of the machine (it 53. Electric The work done per unit charge moving
has become more spread out/disordered) Potential a positive charge between two points in
Difference (+ a circuit.
40. Destructive out of phase
formula) formula e.p.d = Work Done / Electric
interference
Charge
41. Difference boiling takes place throughout the liquid unit: Volts
between and always at the same temperature,
54. Electric 1) ∆V=∆E(p) / q
boiling and evaporation takes place only at the
Potential 2) V = P / I
evaporating surface of the liquid and can happen at
Difference (3 3) ∆V = ∆W / q
all temperatures
equations)
55. Electric Potential Energy that a charge has due 68. Fuel Rods tubes, which contain uranium-235
Energy to its position in an electric
69. Fusion Liquid-solid
field.
70. Gamma the release of pure energy from the
56. Electromotive Force the work available (from an
Radiation nucleus of the decaying atom
(EMF) electrical source) per unit of
charge 71. Gravitational Gravitational force per unit mass on a
unit: Volts (V) Field point mass (g=F(g)/m)
Strength
57. Electron-Volt The energy an electron gains
by passing through a 72. Gravitational The work done in moving a mass from
potential difference of 1 Volt, Potential infinity to a point in space (Note: The
1 eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J Energy work done is path independent).
unit: Joules (J)
73. Gravitational energy that is stored in an object by its
58. Emissivity the amount of energy a body Potential height
radiates compared to a black Energy unit: Joules (J)
body (between 0 and 1)
74. Heat converts water into steam through the
59. Energy Density (of a fuel) is the amount of Exchanger heat produced by the nuclear reactor
useful energy, which is core. (After the steam turns the turbine it
obtained from 1 kg of a fuel is condensed by the coolant as it travels
unit: J kg⁻¹ through a pipe)
60. Enhanced Greenhouse the release of extra CO2 into 75. How are produced whenever two waves of
Effect the atmosphere caused by standing identical frequency interfere with one
human activities waves another while traveling in opposite
produced? directions along the same medium.
61. Equation describing F=qvBsin@
magnetic force due to a or 76. How to mass defect × 931.5 MeV
moving charge inside a F=qvBcos@ calculate the
magnetic field BE
62. Equation describing F=BILsin@ 77. Ideal Gas a gas that obeys all gas laws at any
magnetic force upon a or pressure, volume or temperature
current-carrying wire F-BILcos@ formula: PV = nRT (n=number of moles)
inside a magnetic field
78. Ideal Gas PV = nRT (n = number of moles, T in K)
63. Field of force region/area/volume (of Law
space); where a mass/charge
79. Impulse (2) The change in momentum. A vector
experiences a force;
unit: kgms⁻²
64. Forced Oscillation when an object is made to also product of Force and time
oscillate at another frequency unit: Ns
than the natural frequency, by
80. Inelastic KE is not conserved, but momentum is.
an external force
Collision
65. Frequency The number of oscillations
81. Insulator Material through which electric charge
per second
does not flow freely.
unit: hertz (Hz)
formula: 1 Hz = 1 oscillation 82. Internal The energy contained in an object due to
per second. Energy the random KE and PE of the molecules
unit: Joules (J)
66. Frictional force the force placed on a moving
object opposite its direction 83. Internal The resistance of the battery
of motion due to the inherent Resistance
roughness of all surfaces 84. Ioinizing the energy required to make a particle
units: newtons (N) Energy positively charged
67. Fuel Enrichment the process by which the 85. Ionizing the ability to remove electrons from
percentage of U-235 in atoms to form ions
nuclear fuel is increased (from
86. Isotope nuclei with the same number of protons
0.7% to 3%)
but different number of neutrons
87. Kinetic Energy energy an object has as a result of its 96. Moderator a material that slows down fast neutrons
motion to the KE of 1eV (or less) through the
unit: Joules (J) collisions between the atoms of the
machine and the neutrons. Necessary for
88. Kinetic F) no Forces act between the particles
nuclear fission as neutrons won't be
Molecular (stay in continous random motion) -
absorbed if they are too fast. This material
Theory (FPICS) Internal Energy = KE (no PE)
surrounds the fuel rods.
P) there is not loss in KE between
(Ex: graphite, water)
particles and the container so all
collisions are Perfectly elastic 97. Molar Mass The mass of 1mole of a substance
I) all particles are Identical units: g/mol
C) all particles remain in Continuous
98. Mole The amount of a substance that contains
random motion
the same number of particles as there are
S) there are many particles and they
atoms in 12g of Carbon-12
are extremely Small compared to the
units: mol
distance between each other
99. Molecular PV = kNT (N = number of molecules, T
89. Law of The total electric charge of an isolated
Gas Law temp in K)
Conservation of system remains constant.
Change 100. Natural The frequency that an object will oscillate
Frequency at if it is moved from its equilibrium point
90. Law of The momentum of an isolated system
of and released.
Conservation of remains constant. (i.e no external
Vibration
Linear force acting)
Momentum 101. Natural the decay of an isotope as the Nuclear
Radioactive Weak Force overpowers the Nuclear Strong
91. Linear The product of mass and velocity. A
Decay Force due to the isotope being unstable (it
Momentum vector
is not stable as the ratio between its
units: kgms⁻¹
neutrons and protons is not ideal)
92. Magnitude of a Ratio of magnetic force on a current
102. Natural random/spontaneous
Magnetic Field carrying conductor to the product of
Radioactive
(magnetic field the current and length of wire and sine
Decay
strength, of the angle between the current and
process
magnetic field the magnetic field (OR: Ratio of
intensity, magnetic force on a charged particle 103. Neutron the number of neutrons in a nucleus
magnetic flux to the product of the charge and its number (N)
density) velocity and the sine of the angle 104. Newton's an object at rest or in motion will stay at
between the velocity and the magnetic First Law rest or in motion unless acted upon by an
field). of Motion external unbalanced net force
93. Mass defect the difference between the mass of the 105. Newton's The net (or resultant) force acting on a
nucleus and the mass of its Second Law body is equal to the product of its mass
constituents (parts) of Motion and its acceleration.
94. Mechanical vs. Mechanical waves need a medium to F=ma
Electromagnetic travel as they cannot travel through a 106. Newton's For every action on one object there is an
Waves vacuum and Electromagnetic waves Third Law equal but opposite reaction
(Medium can of Motion
required to
107. Newton's The force of gravity between two objects
travel?)
Universal is directly proportional to the product of
95. Melting Solid-liquid Law of the two masses and inversely proportional
Gravitation to the square of the distance between
them and acts along a line joining their
centers. (Note: The objects are point
masses. If they are not point masses but
are very far apart, that is, the distance
between them is very much greater than
their radii, they can be treated like point
masses)
(F=G m₁m₂/r²)
108. Nodes points at which there is no displacement 124. Precision A measurement is said to be precise if it
(crest & trough) has little random errors
109. Normal the force on an object perpendicular to the 125. Pressure The force exerted per unit area
force surface it rests on utilized in order to unit: Pascals (Pa)
account for the body's lack of movement
126. Pressure and as Temperature increases, Pressure
units: newtons (N)
Temperature increases
110. Nuclear Nuclear fission produces neutrons. These relationship directly proportional so P/T = constant
Chain neutrons can be used to collide with other
127. Pressure and as Volume decreases, Pressure increase
Reaction nuclei of Uranium-235 in the reactor,
Volume (as particles hit the container wall more
producing more fission, energy and
relationship frequently)
neutrons -when more neutrons are
inversely proportional so P x V =
produces it is called a chain reaction.
constant
111. Nuclear the process by which a larger nucleus
128. Principle of Energy is never created nor destroyed. It
Fission decays (or emits radiation) to become a
Conservation changes from one form to another.
smaller nucleus
of Energy
112. Nuclear the process by which two smaller nuclei
129. Proton the number of protons in the nucleus
Fusion undergo nuclear reaction to form
number (Z)
something larger
130. Radical Field Field that extends radially (like the
113. Nuclear the machine in which nuclear reactions
electric field around a point charge or
Reactor take place, producing energy
the gravitational field around a planet).
114. (Nuclear) the force that holds nucleon together
131. Radioactive the amount of time taken for half of the
Strong
Half-life nuclei of a sample of radioactive
Force
substance to decay
115. Nucleon the name given to the particles of the
132. Random A random error, is an error which affects
nucleus of an atom (the protons and
Errors a reading at random.
neutrons)
133. Reflection when a wave hits a barrier and bounces
116. Nucleon the number of protons plus neutrons in a
(+formula) off
number nucleus (the atomic mass number)
formula: angle of incidence = angle of
(A)
reflection
117. Nuclide a combination of protons and neutrons
134. Refraction the bending of waves due to changing
that form a nucleous
(+formula) velocity, as a wave is travelling through
118. Ohmic vs. Non-ohmic does not behave Ohm's law as different mediums
non-ohmic temperature increases, thus there is a loss formula: index of refraction = c/v
behaviour in heat and resistance is not constant (ex: (velocity of light in a vacuum / velocity
filament lamp) of light in that medium)
119. Ohm's Law The potential difference is directly 135. Resistance (+ the the ratio between the p.d. across the
proportional to the current (provided that relative to material to the current that flows
resistance stays constant) wire through it
thickness & unit: Ohms
120. Period The time taken for one oscillation
length) decreases when wire thicker
(+formula) unit: seconds.
increases when wire longer
equation: T=1/frequency
136. Resonance when an oscillating system vibrates at
121. Phase A way of comparing two oscillations by
the natural frequency (resonant
Difference finding the difference between their
frequency) of another system, causing it
phases.
to vibrate and be amplified
122. Potential 1) divides potential difference
137. Sankey an energy flow diagram whose
Divider - 3 2) acts like multiple resistors in series
Diagram dimensions give a measure of the
part 3) to control voltages
proportion of the different types of
definition
energies
123. Power The rate of doing work (rate at which work
138. Scalar A scalar quantity has only magnitude.
is being performed
Ex. Length, Area, Volume, Speed, Mass.
unit: Watt or Joule/second (W or Js⁻¹)
139. Sig Figs (+ or -) use least # of decimal places 152. Thermal The non-mechanical transfer of energy
Energy between a system and its
140. Sig Figs (x or /) use least # of sig figs
(+equations) surroundings (naturally flows from hot
141. Simple 1) force or acceleration is always to cold)
harmonic directed towards the centre equations:
motion (SHM) 2) the force or acceleration is Q = mL
factors and proportional to the distance from the Q = mc(Tf-Ti)
equation centre unit: Joules (J)
defining equation: a = -w²x
153. Thermal the state in which all parts of a system
142. Solar Constant the intensity (power per unit area) of Equilibrium have reached the same temperature
(+ equation) the Sun (1380 Wm-2).
154. Transitional When the net force on an object is zero
equation: I=P/4πr²
Equilibrium in all directions (i.e no linear
143. Specific Heat The amount of thermal energy required acceleration)
Capacity to raise the temperature of 1Kg or a
155. Transmutation when one element gets transformed
substance by 1K
into another through the process of
equation: c = Q / m(Tf-Ti)
natural radioactive decay
unit: Jkg⁻¹K⁻¹
156. Transverse vs. Transverse - particles of wave travel
144. Specific Latent the amount of energy required to
Longitudinal perpendicular to the direction of
Heat change the state of 1kg of a substance
Waves (Motion energy, Longitudinal - travel in parallel
(+formula) formula:
of Particles) direction
Q = mLf
Q = mLv 157. Traveling vs. Traveling waves carry energy as they
unit: Jkg⁻¹ Standing move and have a constant amplitude,
Waves Standing waves neither move nor carry
145. Speed how far an object travels in a given
energy and have changing amplitudes
time; rate of change of distance, a
scalar 158. Unified atomic 1u = the mass of 1/12 of the nucleus
unit: ms⁻¹ mass unit of a Carbon-12 isotope

146. Sublimation Solid-gas 159. Vaporization Liquid-gas

147. Superposition When two waves pass the same point 160. Vector A vector quantity has both direction
at the same time, their displacements and magnitude.
are added together to calculate the Ex. Displacement, Velocity, Force
resultant displacement. 161. Velocity speed in a particular direction, a vector
148. Surface Heat the energy required to raise the unit: ms⁻¹
Capacity (topic temperature of unit area of a planet's 162. Voltmeter the device that measures voltage
8) (+ equation) surface by one degree. 1) placed in parallel
unit: Jm⁻²K⁻¹ 2) very high resistance
equation: Cs = Q/A∆T 3) in Volts
149. Systematic A systematic error, is an error which 163. Volume and as Volume increases, Temperature
Errors occurs at each reading. Temperature increases
150. Temperature the average KE of the particle of a Relationship directly proportional so V/T =
substance, which determines the constant
direction of thermal energy transfer 164. Wave Intensity the rate of energy transfer per unit
unit: Kelvin (K) area (for a wave, intensity is
151. Thermal The amount of thermal energy (heat) proportional to the square of the
Capacity required to raise the temperature of an amplitude)
object by 1K unit: Wm⁻²
equation: C= Q / (Tf - Ti) 165. Wavelength the length of a full wave (the distance
unit: JK⁻¹ between two consecutive crests or any
two consecutive points that are in
phase); the distance traveled in one
period
unit: m
166. Wave speed the speed at which energy is transferred by the wave
unit: meters / second
167. Weightlessness in free-fall A sensation of weightlessness because a person is falling freely toward the Earth, hence
there is no normal force (reaction force) acting on the person due to gravity.
168. Weightlessness in orbital A sensation of weightlessness due to the spacecraft and all objects in it being in constant
motion free-fall together as they circle Earth.
169. Why does temp. not change Because the energy is being used to break or make bonds and so the energy is not turned
during phase change? into kinetic energy.
170. Work when a force moves an object in the direction of the force
unit: Joules (J)
171. Work (Topic 5) the amount of power supplied in a given time
units: kWh⁻¹