Grade 10 Physical Sciences, Waves, Electrostatics, and Chemistry Fundamentals

Vocabulary flashcards covering electric circuits, matter classification, atomic structure, periodic trends, bonding, stoichiometry, wave mechanics, and electrostatics.

Electric Circuit

A closed path that allows electric charge to flow.

Current ($I$)

The flow of electric charge through a circuit, measured in amperes ($A$).

Voltage ($V$)

The energy per unit charge provided by an electrical source, measured in volts ($V$).

Resistance ($R$)

The opposition to electric current flow, measured in ohms ($\Omega$).

Ohm's Law

The principle stating that current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it, provided temperature remains constant ($V = IR$).

Electrical Power

The rate at which electrical energy is transformed, given by $P = IV$, $P = I^2R$, or $P = \frac{V^2}{R}$.

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)

The energy consumed by a $1\,kW$ device running for $1\,hour$.

Pure Substance

Matter that has a fixed composition and distinct properties, categorized into elements and compounds.

Kinetic Molecular Theory

A theory stating that all matter consists of tiny particles in constant motion whose kinetic energy increases with temperature.

Sublimation

The phase change in which a solid changes directly into a gas without passing through the liquid state.

Deposition

The phase change in which a gas transforms directly into a solid.

Atomic Number ($Z$)

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which defines the element.

Mass Number ($A$)

The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements that are highly reactive, soft metals that lose one electron to form $+1$ ions.

Halogens

Group 17 very reactive nonmetals that gain one electron to form $-1$ ions.

Noble Gases

Group 18 unreactive nonmetals that possess a full outer shell of electrons.

Ionic Bonding

Chemical bonding formed by the transfer of electrons from a metal to a nonmetal, creating oppositely charged ions.

Covalent Bonding

Chemical bonding formed by the sharing of electron pairs between nonmetal atoms.

Metallic Bonding

Chemical bonding where delocalized electrons move freely among positive metal ions in a sea of electrons.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases heat, causing the temperature of the surroundings to increase.

Endothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that absorbs heat, causing the temperature of the surroundings to decrease.

Physical Change

A change that alters the form or appearance of a substance without changing its chemical composition.

Chemical Change

A change that transforms one or more substances into entirely new substances with different chemical properties.

The Mole

The SI unit for amount of substance, containing exactly $6.02 \times 10^{23}$ (or $6.022 \times 10^{23}$) particles.

Limiting Reactant

The reactant that is completely consumed first in a reaction, determining the maximum amount of product formed.

Percentage Yield

The measure of reaction efficiency calculated as \%\text{ yield} = \frac{\text{actual yield}}{\text{theoretical yield}} \times 100.

Wave Pulse

A single, non-repeating disturbance that travels through a medium.

Longitudinal Wave

A wave in which particle oscillation is parallel to the direction of wave propagation, consisting of compressions and rarefactions.

Electromagnetic Waves

Transverse waves composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to each other and to propagation, traveling at $c = 3.00 \times 10^8\,m/s$ in a vacuum.

Frequency ($f$)

The number of complete wave cycles passing a fixed point per unit time, measured in Hertz ($Hz$).

Period ($T$)

The time required for one complete wave cycle to pass a fixed point, related to frequency by $T = \frac{1}{f}$.

Wave Equation

The fundamental mathematical relationship connecting wave speed, frequency, and wavelength: $v = f\lambda$.

Charge Quantization

The principle that electric charge exists in discrete integer multiples of the elementary charge $e = 1.602 \times 10^{-19}\,C$, written as $q = ne$.

Coulomb's Law

A law quantifying electrostatic force between stationary point charges: $F_e = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}$, where $k = 8.99 \times 10^9\,N\,m^2/C^2$.

Electromotive Force (EMF)

The total energy supplied per unit charge by a source to drive charge around a closed circuit, expressed as \mathcal{E} = \frac{W}{Q}.

Internal Resistance ($r$)

The inherent opposition to current flow inside a battery or energy source caused by its electrolyte and electrodes.

Terminal Voltage

The voltage measured across the terminals of a battery supplying current, given by $V = \mathcal{E} - Ir$.