Trimester 3 Master Physics Study Guide Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering electrostatics, circuit dynamics, atomic models, quantum mechanics, and classical mechanics based on the Trimester 3 Master Physics Study Guide.

Elementary Charge ($e$)

The smallest unit of charge, which is quantized and equal to $1.60 \times 10^{-19}\,C$.

Conservation of Charge

A principle stating that charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred, and the total net charge in a closed system remains completely constant.

Charging by Friction

The process where two neutral, chemically distinct materials are rubbed together, causing electrons to be ripped from one and deposited onto the other, resulting in equal and opposite charges.

Charging by Conduction (Contact)

A method where a charged conductor touches another conductor, causing free electrons to migrate so both objects share the same sign of charge.

Charging by Induction

Permanently charging a conducting object by bringing a charged object nearby without contact to polarize it, then providing a temporary ground path for electrons to enter or escape.

Surface Polarization

The process by which charged objects attract neutral objects, allowing a neutral object to be attracted to either a positive or negative charge.

Coulomb's Law

An inverse-square law that quantifies the electrostatic force between two static point charges: $F_e = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}$.

Electrostatic Constant ($k$)

A value used in Coulomb's Law, approximately equal to $8.99 \times 10^9\,N \cdot m^2/C^2$ or $9.0 \times 10^9\,N \cdot m^2/C^2$.

Voltage ($V$)

The electrical potential energy difference per unit charge, measured in Joules per Coulomb ($J/C$), which acts as the 'pressure' driving the charge.

Current ($I$)

The rate at which charge flows through a cross-section per second, represented as $I = \frac{\Delta q}{\Delta t}$ and measured in Amperes ($A$).

Resistance ($R$)

The structural opposition to electron flow, measured in Ohms ($\Omega$).

Power ($P$)

The rate at which electrical energy is transformed into heat or light, calculated as $P = IV$, $P = I^2 R$, or $P = \frac{V^2}{R}$, and measured in Watts ($W$).

Series Circuit

A single-loop circuit where the current is the same everywhere and the total equivalent resistance ($R_{eq}$) is the sum of all individual resistors.

Parallel Circuit

A multi-branch circuit where the voltage is identical across every branch and adding branches decreases the total equivalent resistance ($R_{eq}$).

Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment (1911)

An experiment firing alpha particles at gold foil which proved that the atom is mostly empty space with all positive charge and nearly all mass concentrated in a dense nucleus.

Ground State

The lowest energy level closest to the nucleus, designated as $n = 1$.

Excitation (Absorption)

The process where an electron absorbs an incoming photon and jumps to a higher energy level.

De-excitation (Emission)

The process where an excited electron drops to a lower energy level, releasing a photon with energy equal to $\Delta E = E_{high} - E_{low}$.

Photon

A discrete packet or 'lump' of electromagnetic energy.

Photoelectric Effect

A phenomenon that provides proof of the particle nature of light by showing light ejecting electrons from metals.

Planck's Constant ($h$)

A physical constant used to describe the sizes of quanta, equal to $6.626 \times 10^{-34}\,J \cdot s$.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

A principle stating it is fundamentally impossible to simultaneously know both the precise position ($\Delta x$) and momentum ($\Delta p$) of a particle.

Newton's 1st Law (Inertia)

A law stating that if the net force is zero ($F_{net} = 0$), an object must maintain its current state of motion, remaining at rest or moving at a constant velocity.

Terminal Velocity

The constant speed reached by a falling object when the upward drag of air resistance completely balances the downward gravitational force.

Work-Energy Theorem

The principle stating that the net mechanical work done on a system changes its kinetic energy ($W_{net} = \Delta KE$).

Inelastic Collision

A collision where two objects stick together and move with a unified velocity; momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is lost.

Impulse-Momentum Theorem

A theorem derived from Newton's 2nd Law stating that impulse, defined as $F \Delta t$, equals the change in momentum ($\Delta p$).

Centripetal Acceleration ($a_c$)

The center-seeking acceleration of an object moving in a circular path, defined as $a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}$.

Wave Speed Equation

The relationship that wave speed ($v$) is equal to frequency ($f$) multiplied by wavelength ($\lambda$), expressed as $v = f \lambda$.