IGCSE Physics Quick Revision

Scalars

Quantities that contain only magnitude.

Vectors

Quantities that contain both magnitude and direction.

Speed

The distance traveled per unit of time.

Velocity

Speed with a specified direction.

Distance

The total path traveled, regardless of direction.

Displacement

The shortest distance from the initial to the final position in a specific direction.

Amplitude

The maximum extent of a wave in its oscillation.

Frequency

The number of cycles of a wave that occur in a unit of time.

Wavelength

The distance between successive crests of a wave.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation.

Analogue Signals

Signals that vary continuously, often representing sound or light.

Digital Signals

Signals that represent data using discrete values (0s & 1s).

Critical Angle

The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

Ionization

The process of adding or removing charged particles from atoms.

Alpha Radiation

A type of nuclear radiation consisting of helium nuclei, with a charge of +2.

Beta Radiation

A type of nuclear radiation consisting of electrons or positrons, with a charge of -1.

Gamma Radiation

A type of nuclear radiation composed of high-energy photons with no charge.

Life Cycle of a Star

The series of stages that stars go through from birth to death.

Protostar

The initial stage of a star's formation, before nuclear fusion begins.

Main Sequence Star

A star that is in the main stage of its life cycle, fusing hydrogen into helium.

Red Giant

A late stage in a star's life cycle where it expands and cools after exhausting hydrogen.