Grade 10 Physical Sciences Key Vocabulary and Concepts

Vocabulary and key formulas from the Grade 10 Physical Sciences Annual Teaching Plan (ATP).

Wave Speed

The distance travelled by a point on a wave per unit time.

Wave Equation

The equation relating wave speed ($v$), frequency ($f$), and wavelength ($\lambda$), expressed as $v = f\lambda$.

Echoes

Reflections of sound waves.

Ultrasound

Sound with frequencies higher than $20\,\text{kHz}$ up to about $100\,\text{kHz}$.

Speed of Electromagnetic Waves ($c$)

The constant speed at which mutually regenerating electromagnetic fields travel through space, equal to $3 \times 10^8\,\text{m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}$.

Photon Energy Equation

The formula used to calculate the energy of a photon based on frequency ($f$) or wavelength ($\lambda$), given as $E = hf = \frac{hc}{\lambda}$.

Neutral Object

An object that has an equal number of protons and electrons.

Positively Charged Object

An object that is electron deficient.

Negatively Charged Object

An object that has an excess of electrons.

Tribo-electric Charging

The process by which insulators are charged by contact or rubbing.

Principle of Conservation of Charge Equation

The formula used to determine the charge on identical objects after contact, given by $Q = \frac{Q_1 + Q_2}{2}$.

Principle of Charge Quantization Equation

The mathematical representation of charge quantization, expressed as $Q = nq_e$.

Potential Difference Formula

The relationship between work ($W$), potential difference ($V$), and charge ($Q$), given by $W = VQ$ or $V = \frac{W}{Q}$.

Current Strength Formula

The rate of charge flow in a conductor, calculated using $I = \frac{Q}{\Delta t}$.

Series Resistance Formula

The total resistance of resistors connected in series, calculated as $R_T = R_1 + R_2 + \dots$

Parallel Resistance Formula

The relationship for total resistance of resistors connected in parallel, given by \frac{1}{R_p} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + \dots

Atomic Representation Notation

The standard chemical notation ${}_{Z}^{A}\text{E}$, where $\text{E}$ is the element symbol, $Z$ is the atomic number, and $A$ is the mass number.

Empirical Formula

The simplest formula of a compound.

Concentration Formula

The measure of solute per unit volume, calculated in \text{mol}\cdot\text{dm}^{-3} using $c = \frac{n}{V}$.

Frame of Reference

A coordinate system that has an origin and a set of directions (such as east and west or up and down).

Acceleration Formula

The rate of change of velocity over time, expressed as $a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$.

Gravitational Potential Energy Formula

The energy possessed by an object due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated as $E_p = mgh$ or $U = mgh$.

Kinetic Energy Formula

The energy an object possesses due to its motion, calculated using $E_k = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$ or $K = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

Mechanical Energy Formula

The total energy of a system combining kinetic energy and potential energy, defined as $E_m = E_k + E_p$ or $E_M = K + U$.