Physical Science Final Exam Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, waves, sound, light, thermodynamics, and radioactivity based on the Physical Science Final Exam Review.

Two rules of electric charge

Like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

Atom particles

The three major particles are protons and neutrons, found in the nucleus, and electrons, found in the cloud surrounding the nucleus.

Ion types

An atom with more electrons is a negative ion, and an atom with more protons is a positive ion.

Conductor

A material through which electric charge can flow easily, often due to loose electrons.

Insulator

A material that does not allow electric charge to flow easily.

Coulomb’s Law

The law stating that the electrical force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them: $F = k \times \frac{q_1 \times q_2}{d^2}$.

k (Coulomb's constant)

A proportionality constant that indicates the strength of the electric force; its relative magnitude shows that the electric force is much stronger than the gravitational force.

Neutral atom with partial charges

This is called a polar molecule, such as a water molecule, which has a partial positive side and a partial negative side despite being neutral overall.

Ampere

The SI unit used to measure electric current.

Voltage

Also called electrical potential, it is the pressure that pushes charge through a circuit, measured in volts ($V$).

Ohm ($\Omega$)

The unit of measurement for electrical resistance.

Ohm’s Law equation

$V = I \times R$, where $V$ is voltage, $I$ is current, and $R$ is resistance.

Alternating Current (ac)

Electric current that repeatedly reverses direction; typically produced by generators and power plants providing power to homes.

Direct Current (dc)

Electric current that flows in only one direction; typically produced by batteries.

Kilowatt-hours

A unit of electrical energy used by utility companies to measure consumption.

Electric Power equation

$P = I \times V$, where $P$ is power (measured in Watts), $I$ is current, and $V$ is voltage.

Source of all magnetism

The motion of electric charges, such as moving electrons.

Magnetic pole

One of the regions of a magnet (North or South) where magnetic strength is greatest; magnets always exist as dipoles, never monopoles.

Magnetic Field

The region surrounding a magnet where magnetic forces can be detected, represented by field lines.

Electromagnet

A magnet created by wrapping a current-carrying wire around an iron core; its strength increases with more coils or more current.

Motor vs. Generator

A motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, while a generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Faraday’s Law

The law that summarizes electromagnetic induction, stating that the induced voltage in a coil is proportional to the product of its number of loops and the rate at which the magnetic field changes within those loops.

Simple Harmonic Motion

Back-and-forth periodic motion, such as that of a swinging pendulum or a vibrating spring.

Frequency ($f$)

The number of vibrations or cycles that occur per unit of time, measured in Hertz ($Hz$).

Period ($T$)

The time it takes for one complete vibration or cycle to occur; given by the relationship $T = \frac{1}{f}$.

Transverse Wave

A wave in which the medium moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels.

Longitudinal Wave

A wave in which the medium moves back and forth in the same direction as the wave travels, consisting of compressions and rarefactions.

$\lambda$ (Wavelength)

The distance from the top of one crest to the top of the next crest, or between any two identical successive parts of a wave.

Wave Speed equation

$v = f \times \lambda$, where $v$ is wave speed, $f$ is frequency, and $\lambda$ is wavelength.

Standing Wave

A wave pattern that remains in a constant position, formed by the interference of two waves of the same frequency and amplitude traveling in opposite directions.

Mechanical vs. Electromagnetic Waves

Mechanical waves (like sound) require a medium to travel, while electromagnetic waves (like light) can travel through a vacuum.

Human range of hearing

The frequency range of $20\,Hz$ to $20,000\,Hz$.

Infrasonic

Sound frequencies lower than the human hearing range (below $20\,Hz$).

Ultrasonic

Sound frequencies higher than the human hearing range (above $20,000\,Hz$).

Echo vs. Reverberation

An echo is a single reflection of sound, while reverberation is multiple reflections that create a garbled noise.

Resonance

Occurs when the frequency of forced vibrations on an object matches its natural frequency, causing a dramatic increase in amplitude.

Beats

The periodic variation in loudness caused by the interference of two sounds with slightly different frequencies.

Doppler Effect

The change in frequency of a wave due to the motion of the source or the receiver.

Red and Blue Shift

A red shift indicates a source moving away from Earth (lower frequency), while a blue shift indicates a source moving toward Earth (higher frequency).

Bow vs. Shock Wave

A bow wave is a V-shaped pattern made on a liquid surface by an object moving faster than wave speed; a shock wave is a cone-shaped pattern made in air by an object moving faster than the speed of sound.

Thermal Energy

The total energy (kinetic and potential) of all the particles in a substance.

Heat

The transfer of thermal energy between substances due to a temperature difference.

Absolute Zero

The temperature at $-273.15^{\circ}C$ or $0\,K$ at which atoms lose all available kinetic energy.

Specific Heat Capacity

The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree; water has a notably high value.

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy by direct contact between particles in a solid.

Convection

The transfer of heat energy in fluids (liquids and gases) through the motion of the fluid itself.

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves; this process does not require a medium.

Thermal Expansion

The tendency of matter to increase in volume when heated, as the particles move faster and push each other further apart.

Sublimation

The phase change directly from a solid to a gas.

Latent Heat of Fusion

The amount of energy needed to change a substance from a solid to a liquid (or vice versa).

Latent Heat of Vaporization

The amount of energy needed to change a substance between liquid and gas phases.

First Law of Thermodynamics

States that the heat added to a system equals the increase in internal energy plus the work done by the system.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons and thus different atomic mass numbers.

Radioactive Decays

Alpha decay (emission of helium nucleus), Beta decay (emission of electron), and Gamma decay (emission of high-energy photon).

Half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample of an isotope to decay.

Nuclear Fission vs. Fusion

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into smaller ones, while nuclear fusion is the combining of two light nuclei into a larger one.

Critical Mass

The minimum amount of fissionable material needed to sustain a chain reaction.