A-Level Physics Review

A series of flashcards designed to cover key vocabulary and concepts in A-Level Physics.

Scientific Process

The method scientists use to ask questions, form hypotheses, test theories through experiments, share results for peer review, and adapt through new evidence.

Physics

The study of matter, energy, and the interactions between them.

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = rac{1}{2}mv^2.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and its velocity, given by the equation $p = mv$.

Ohm's Law

The law stating that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, given as $V = IR$.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes from one medium into another with different density.

Terminal Velocity

The maximum velocity an object can reach when falling through a fluid, where the gravitational force is balanced by drag.

Hooke's Law

The law stating that the extension of a material is proportional to the force applied to it, up to the limit of proportionality, expressed as $F = kx$.

Young's Modulus

A measure of the stiffness of a material, defined as stress divided by strain, expressed as E = rac{ ext{stress}}{ ext{strain}}.

Electric Current

The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A), defined as the amount of charge flowing through a conductor per unit time.

Potential Difference (Voltage)

The work done to move a charge between two points in an electric field, measured in volts (V).

Resistance

A measure of the oppositional force against the flow of electric current, measured in ohms (Ω).

Density

The mass per unit volume of a material, calculated using the formula
ho = rac{m}{V}.

Work Done

The amount of energy transferred when a force acts over a distance, given by the equation $W = Fd$.

Power

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, expressed as P = rac{W}{t}.

Frequency

The number of cycles of a wave that occur in a unit time, measured in hertz (Hz).

Wavelength

The distance between successive crests of a wave, typically measured in meters (m).

Wave Speed

The speed at which a wave travels through a medium, given by the formula $v = f ext{l}$.

LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)

A resistor whose resistance decreases with increasing incident light intensity.

Thermistor

A type of resistor that changes resistance with temperature, typically used to measure or control temperature.

Free Fall

The motion of a body where gravity is the only force acting upon it.

Peer Review

The process by which scientific work is evaluated by a group of experts in the field before publication.

Electrolyte

A substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a solvent, such as water.

Mechanical Energy

The sum of potential and kinetic energy in a system.

Heat Transfer

The process of thermal energy moving from one object to another due to a temperature difference.

Viscosity

A measurement of a fluid's resistance to flow, which varies with temperature.

Natural Frequency

The frequency at which a system oscillates when not subjected to a continuous or repeated external force.

Interference

The phenomenon that occurs when two waves meet, resulting in a combined effect that can be constructive or destructive.

Phase Difference

The fraction of a wavelength by which one wave lags behind another wave.

Wavefunction

A mathematical function that describes the quantum state of a system; it contains all the information about the system.

Efficiency

The ratio of useful energy output to total energy input, expressed as a percentage.

Archimedes' Principle

The principle stating that any object wholly or partially submerged in a fluid experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

Snell's Law

The law relating the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction for a wave crossing a boundary between two different media, expressed as $n_1 ext{sin}( heta_1) = n_2 ext{sin}( heta_2)$.

Huygens' Principle

The principle stating that every point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets.

Superposition Principle

The principle that states that when two or more waves overlap, the resultant displacement at any point is the sum of the individual waves' displacements.