physics

Amplitude

the maximum displacement of an oscillating object from its equilibrium position.

Antinodes

points on a standing wave where the displacement reaches its maximum value

Blueshift

the decrease in the observed wavelength (and increase in frequency) of electromagnetic radiation from a source moving toward the observer. The spectrum shifts toward the blue (higher-frequency) end.

Carnot cycle

represents an idealized model of a heat engine that achieves the maximum possible efficiency for given reservoir temperatures

Diffraction

the spreading of waves as they pass through an aperture or around an obstacle

electric field strength

the force per unit charge experienced by a small positive test charge qq.

Electric potential

the amount of work done per unit charge in bringing a small positive test charge from infinity to a point in an electric field

Potential difference / voltage

the energy per unit charge required to move a charge between two points in an electric field

electric potential energy

the energy stored in a system of charged particles due to their positions relative to each other

EMF - electromotive force

the work done per unit charge to move a charge completely around a circuit, including through the battery

entropy

a measure of the degree of disorder in a system

Escape velocity

the minimum speed an object must have to break free from a gravitational field without any additional energy input

The first law of thermodynamics

the total energy of an isolated system is constant

Frequency

the number of complete oscillations per unit time, measured in hertz (Hz)

Fringe spacing

the distance between adjacent bright or dark fringes in an interference pattern, typically observed in double-slit experiments or diffraction patterns

gravitational field strength

the force per unit mass experienced by a small test mass placed at that point

Gravitational potential

the work done per unit mass to bring a small test mass from infinity to a point in a gravitational field

inertial reference frame

a non-accelerating frame of reference in which Newton's first law of motion holds true

Internal energy

the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of a substance and is the result of the motion of the particles which make up the substance

Mechanical energy

the sum of an object's kinetic energy and potential energy

Mechanical waves

waves that require a medium (such as air, water, or a solid) to propagate

A natural frequency

a frequency at which the system naturally oscillates when not disturbed by external forces

Nodes

points on a standing wave where the displacement is always zero.

ohm’s law

the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it, provided the temperature remains constant

Orbital speed

the speed an object must have to maintain a stable circular orbit around a larger mass

Path difference

the difference in distance traveled by the waves from their sources to the point of overlap

period

the time taken for one complete revolution / oscillation

reference frame

A reference frame is a coordinate system that allows us to measure the position, velocity, and time of events

temperature

A measure of the average random kinetic energy of the particles of a substance.

Specific Heat Capacity

the energy required per unit mass to raise the temperature of a substance by 1K

Boiling

a phase change of a liquid into a gas that occurs at a fixed temperature

Evaporation

when faster moving molecules have enough energy to escape from the

surface of a liquid that is at a temperature less than its boiling point, leaving slower

moving molecules behind which results in a cooling of the liquid

Superposition

When two waves meet, the resultant displacement is

the vector sum of the displacements of the component waves.