Physics 21st Century (OCR)

Mechanical Energy

Energy that includes both kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (energy stored in an object due to its position).

Thermal Energy

The energy of particles in motion, linked to temperature; faster particles have more thermal energy.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds and released during chemical reactions, such as when fossil fuels are burned.

Nuclear Energy

Energy released during nuclear reactions, including nuclear fission (splitting of atoms) and nuclear fusion (combining atoms).

Hydropower

A renewable energy source that uses water to generate energy, often through dams, with potential environmental impacts.

Wind Energy

Energy generated by wind turbines that convert air movement into electrical energy.

Solar Energy

Energy harnessed from sunlight and converted into electricity using solar panels.

Energy Storage

Modern solutions like lithium-ion and flow batteries that balance supply from intermittent renewable sources.

Ohm's Law (V = IR)

A principle relating voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) in electrical circuits.

Resistors

Components used to control current in circuits, critical for creating specific voltages or currents.

Superconductivity

A phenomenon where materials have zero electrical resistance at very low temperatures.

Electromagnetic Induction

The process by which a changing magnetic field induces an electrical current in a conductor.

Induction Cooking

A method of cooking that uses electromagnetic induction to directly heat pots and pans.

Transformers

Devices that increase or decrease voltage in AC circuits using electromagnetic induction.

Electric Motors

Machines that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy using electromagnetism.

Electromagnets

Magnetic fields created using electricity, which can be turned on and off.

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Three laws that describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting on it, used to predict motion.

Forces and Acceleration (F = ma)

An equation that states the force acting on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration.

Momentum

The quantity of motion an object possesses, dependent on its mass and velocity.

Gravitational Forces

The attractive forces between masses, crucial for understanding orbits and satellite technology.

Black Holes

Regions in space with gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Radio Waves

Electromagnetic waves used in communication technologies like radio, TV, and mobile networks.

Microwaves

Electromagnetic waves used in cooking and satellite communications.

Gamma Rays

High-energy electromagnetic radiation used in medical applications like cancer treatment.

Superposition

A quantum principle stating that particles can exist in multiple states at once.

Fission

The splitting of uranium atoms in nuclear reactors to release energy.

Fusion

The process that powers the sun, involving the combining of light atomic nuclei to release energy.

The Standard Model

A theory describing fundamental particles and their interactions, including the discovery of the Higgs boson.