High School Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) - Core Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering the four fundamental forces, nuclear processes, mass-energy equivalency, and force relationships from High School Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC).

Strong Nuclear Force

The strongest force in nature, which holds protons and neutrons together inside the atomic nucleus across an extremely short range (subatomic level only).

Electromagnetic Force

A fundamental force that acts between charged particles (attraction between opposite charges, repulsion between like charges) and is responsible for chemical bonds and everyday contact forces (like pushing a wall).

Weak Nuclear Force

A short-range fundamental force that governs radioactive decay and particle transformations.

Gravitational Force

The weakest fundamental force, which acts between all objects with mass, possesses an infinite range, and is always attractive.

Mass-Energy Equivalency

The principle represented by $E = mc^2$ (where $c$ is the speed of light), stating that mass and energy are directly proportional and that a tiny amount of mass converts into a colossal amount of energy.

Nuclear Fission

The process of splitting a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei, which is used in current nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Fusion

The process of combining light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, which occurs in the core of the Sun and stars.

Mass/Charge Relationship

A direct relationship in which increasing mass increases gravitational force, and increasing charge increases electrical force.

Inverse-Square Law

The distance relationship describing how force decreases as the square of the distance increases.