Physics

Year 11 Physics Module 1, 2, 3, and 4

Displacement

The change in position of an object from its initial to final point.

Distance

The total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction.

Speed

The rate at which an object covers distance, calculated as distance divided by time.

Velocity

The speed of an object in a specific direction.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity of an object over time.

Position-time graph

A graphical representation showing an object's position as a function of time.

Velocity-time graph

A graphical representation showing an object's velocity as a function of time.

Uniform motion

Motion at a constant speed in a straight line.

Equations for uniformly accelerated motion

Mathematical formulas that describe the motion of objects under constant acceleration.

Free fall

The motion of an object under the influence of gravity alone.

Effects of gravity

The influence of gravitational force on the motion of objects.

Terminal velocity

The constant speed reached by an object when the force of gravity is balanced by air resistance.

Gravitational force

The attractive force between two masses.

Electromagnetic force

The force associated with electric and magnetic fields.

Strong nuclear force

The force that holds protons and neutrons together in an atomic nucleus.

Weak nuclear force

A fundamental force responsible for certain types of radioactive decay.

Newton's First Law

An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a net external force.

Newton's Second Law

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).

Newton's Third Law

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Friction

The force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in contact.

Tension

The force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight.

Normal force

The support force exerted upon an object in contact with a surface.

Net force

The overall force acting on an object when all individual forces are combined.

Free-body diagram

A graphical representation used to show all the forces acting on an object.

Static equilibrium

A condition where an object is at rest and the net force acting on it is zero.

Dynamic equilibrium

A condition where an object is moving at a constant velocity and the net force acting on it is zero.

Work

The product of the force applied to an object and the distance the object moves in the direction of the force (W = Fd cos θ).

Kinetic energy

The energy an object possesses due to its motion (KE = 1/2 mv²).

Potential energy

The energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration (PE = mgh).

Law of conservation of energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Energy transformations

The process of changing energy from one form to another, such as mechanical to thermal energy.

Power

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred (P = W/t).

Units of power

The standard unit of power is the Watt (W).

Transverse waves

Waves in which the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Longitudinal waves

Waves in which the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

Wavelength

The distance between successive crests or troughs in a wave.

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a given point in one second.

Amplitude

The maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position.

Speed of sound

The rate at which sound waves travel through different media.

Reflection

The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier.

Refraction

The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.

Diffraction

The spreading out of waves when they pass through a narrow opening or around obstacles.

Interference

The phenomenon that occurs when two waves meet and combine to form a new wave pattern.

Doppler effect

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.

Ultrasound

Sound waves with frequencies above the audible range, used in medical imaging and other technologies.

Sonar

A technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate, or detect objects underwater.