Group 9-10 General Science Physics Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, units, physical laws, and equations in mechanics, energetics, thermodynamics, wave theory, optics, and atomic physics for Group 9-10 science.

Inertia

The tendency of a body to resist a change in its state of rest or motion; it is the concept behind Newton's first law of motion.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The physical law stating that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration, expressed by the formula $F = ma$.

Newton's Third Law of Motion

The law stating that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, as seen when a fired gun recoils backward.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and its velocity.

Weight

The downward gravitational force on an object, measured in newtons ($\text{N}$) and calculated using the formula $W = mg$.

Acceleration due to Gravity ($g$)

The acceleration experienced by objects near Earth's surface, approximately equal to $9.8\,\text{m/s}^2$.

Friction

A resistive force that always acts opposite to the direction of motion.

Displacement

A vector quantity that represents the distance moved in a specified direction.

Velocity

A vector quantity defined as speed measured in a specified direction.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity, measured in the SI unit of $\text{m/s}^2$.

Uniform Velocity

The motion of an object when it covers equal displacement in equal intervals of time.

Area Under a Speed–Time Graph

The geometric region beneath a speed–time curve, which represents the total distance travelled.

Slope of a Velocity–Time Graph

The gradient of a velocity–time curve, which represents the acceleration of the moving body.

Pressure

A physical quantity defined as force per unit area, measured in the SI unit of pascals ($\text{Pa}$).

Pascal's Law

The principle stating that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished in all directions, utilized in devices like the hydraulic press.

Barometer

An instrument designed to measure atmospheric pressure.

Density

The mass of a substance divided by its volume, with the SI unit of $\text{kg/m}^3$.

Archimedes' Principle

The principle that explains buoyancy (upthrust), showing that a floating body displaces a weight of fluid equal to its own weight.

Work Done

The product of the applied force and the distance moved in the direction of the force, measured in joules ($\text{J}$).

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by a body due to its motion, given by the formula $\frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

Gravitational Potential Energy

The energy stored in an object due to its vertical position, given by the formula $mgh$.

Law of Conservation of Energy

The fundamental law stating that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Power

The rate of doing work or transferring energy, calculated as work done divided by time taken.

Watt

The SI unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second ($1\,\text{J/s}$).

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy through a solid without any bulk movement of the solid itself.

Convection

The transfer of heat within a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by the actual movement of the fluid particles.

Radiation

The mechanism of heat transfer that does not require any material medium to propagate.

Frequency

The number of complete waves passing a given point per second, measured in hertz ($\text{Hz}$).

Wavelength

The linear distance between two consecutive crests or identical points on adjacent wave cycles.

Loudness

A perceptual characteristic of sound that depends primarily on the amplitude of the wave.

Pitch

A perceptual characteristic of sound that depends primarily on the frequency of the wave.

Refraction

The change in direction or bending of a light wave as it passes from one optical medium into another.

Dispersion

The separation of white light into its component spectrum of seven colours.

Dioptre

The standard unit used to measure the optical power of a lens.

Normal (Optics)

An imaginary reference line drawn perpendicular to a surface at the point of incidence.

Concave Mirror

A converging curved mirror used by dentists to produce an enlarged, magnified view of a tooth.

Convex Lens

A converging optical lens that bends parallel light rays inward toward a common focal point.

Electrons

Subatomic particles that, along with protons and neutrons, constitute the fundamental structure of an atom.