High School Honors Physics Part B Flashcards

Electrical Current (I)

Flow of electric charge, measured in amperes.

Formula: I = Q/t

Voltage (V)

Electric potential difference measured in volts. Pushes current

Resistance (R)

Opposition to current flow, measured in ohms (Ω).

Formula: V = IR

Ohm's Law

V=IR

Capacitance (C)

Ability to store charge

Formula: C = Q/V

Power (P)

Rate of energy transfer, measured in watts.

Formula: P = IV, P = I²*R, P = V²/R

Series Circuit

A closed circuit in which the current follows one path

Parallel Circuit

The circuit is divided into two or more paths.

Wave

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another

Frequency (F)

Number of cycles per second, measured in Hertz.

Wavelength (λ)

The distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs in a wave

Speed of a Wave (V)

v = fλ

Reflection

The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass.

Refraction

The bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another

Snell's Law

n1*sinθ1 = n2*sinθ2

Lens/Mirror Equation

1/f = 1/do + 1/di

Magnification (M)

M = hi/ho = -di/do

Temperature (T)

Measure of average kinetic energy of particles.

Heat (Q)

Energy transferred due to temperature difference.

Specific Heat (C)

Q = mcΔT

Internal Energy (U)

The sum of all the kinetic and potential energies of the molecules

Work (W)

The amount of energy transferred when a force is applied to an object and the object moves in the direction of that force

First Law of Thermodynamics (Law of Conservation of Energy)

A statement of energy conservation that specifically includes heat energy

Formula: ΔU = Q - W

Entropy (S)

A measure of disorder or randomness.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

The total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.

Photoelectric Effect

The emission of electrons from a material when light waves shines on the surface of the material
Formula: E = hf

Fission

The splitting of an atomic nucleus to release energy.

Fusion

Creation of energy by joining the nuclei of atoms to form another.

Amplitude

the height of a wave from its rest position to the crest or trough

Period (T)

The time it takes for one complete cycle of a wave to pass a given point.

Formula: T = 1/f

Crest

the highest point of the wave; the peak

Trough

the lowest point of the wave; the dip

Conductor

A material that permits charged particles to move freely through it

Semiconductors

special materials that can conduct electricity under certain circumstances

Insulator

A material that does not allow heat or electrons to move through it easily.

Circuit

any unbroken loop of electrical components that forms a continuous conducting path

Kirchhoff's First Law

the total current entering a junction is equal to the total current leaving the junction

Kirchoff's Second Law

In a closed circuit, the algebraic sum of the products of the current and the resistance of each part of the circuit is equal to the resultant electromotive force, or voltage, in the circuit

Electromagnetism

a magnetic field that is produced by a current of electricity.

Bob of a Pendulum

the mass hanging at the end of a pendulum

Length of a Pendulum

Measured from the point of attachment to the center of the bob.

Swing of a Pendulum

Consists of a to-and-from motion

Period of a Pendulum

aka swing time of the pendulum; the time it takes for a pendulum to move over and return to its original position

Medium

any material substance with mass and volume

Transverse Wave

A wave in which the particles of matter oscillate in the direction perpendicular to the motion of the wave

Ex: Rope wave when oscillated

Longitudinal Wave

a wave in which the particles of matter move in a direction parallel to the motion of the wave

Rarefaction

the region in which a longitudinal wave is "pulled apart" during its oscillation

Compression

the region in which a longitudinal wave is "pushed together" during its oscillation

Diffraction

the bending of waves around an obstacle or a slit

Interference

occurs when similar waves are in a medium simultaneously

Constructive Interference

The interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude

Destructive interference

The interference that occurs when a crest and trough cancel out, resulting in a 0 amplitude wave

Principal Axis

The horizontal reference line passing through the center of curvature of the lens and mirror.

Principal Plane

The vertical reference line passing through the center of the lens or perpendicular to the principle axis of the center of a mirror

Focal Point

the point at which a beam of light parallel to the principal axis converges after being refracted (lens) or reflected (mirrors)

Object

the reference item used in lens and mirror activities

Concave lens (Diverging lens)

A lens that is thinner in the middle, causing parallel rays of light to diverge (spread out) from a focus on the same side of the lens that the object is

Convex lens (Converging lens)

A lens that is thickest in the middle, causing parallel rays of light to converge (come together) to a focus

Concave mirror (converging mirror)

A curved mirror that bulges away from the object or light source.

Convex Mirror (diverging mirror)

A curved mirror that bulges out toward the object or light source.

Index of Refraction

a number that shows how much light bends or slows down when it passes through a material

Formula: n=\frac{c}{v}

Double-Slit Interference Equation

Formula: λ/d = x/L
λ = wavelength (m)
d = distance between slits
x = the distance between the central maximum to the first bright fringe
L = the distance between the double-slit barrier to the screen

Dispersion

occurs when different colors (wavelengths) of light travels through a material

Polarization

the restriction of the vibrations in a transverse wave so that the vibrations occurs in a single planet

Analog Waves

continuous waves that represent changes in physical quantities, like sound, light or temperature

What are some advantages to analog communication?

- Travels in a continuous wave
- Strength and frequency are flexible to accommodate data
- Only need a small range of frequencies to transmit information

What are some disadvantages to analog communication?

- It can be expensive (set up of transmitters and recievers)
- Susceptible to destructive wave interference

Digital Waves

Signals that have only 2 values: on and off, or 1 and 0

What are some advantages to digital communication?

- Less expensive- Noise (unwanted signals) reduction
- Increased capacity for sending information
- Travels as an electrical pulse- Reliable with less interference

What are some disadvantages to digital communication?

- Interpretation errors between transmitters
- Requires a greater range of frequencies for information to be sent
- Perfect synchronization between communication sources is required

Photons

a quantum of light; a discrete bundle of electromagnetic energy that is often used to describe energy emitted from the sum

Absolute Zero

the lowest possible theoretical temperature

What are the four states of matter?

Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma

What are the properties of a solid?

Definite shape and volume; particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place.

What are the properties of a liquid?

Definite volume, but no definite shape; takes the shape of its container; particles slide past each other.

What are the properties of a gas?

No definite shape or volume; expands to fill container; particles move freely and fast.

What are the properties of plasma?

No definite shape or volume; made of ionized particles; conducts electricity; found in stars and lightning.

What phase change occurs when a solid becomes a liquid?

Melting

What phase change occurs when a liquid becomes a gas?

Evaporation or Boiling

What phase change occurs when a gas becomes a liquid?

Condensation

What phase change occurs when a liquid becomes a solid?

Freezing

What phase change occurs when a solid becomes a gas directly?

Sublimation

What phase change occurs when a gas becomes a solid directly?

Deposition

What is the specific heat formula?

Q = (m)(c)(ΔT)

What are the latent heat equations

1st Formula: Q = m × Hf
2nd Formula: Q = m × Hv

Fusion

Creation of energy by joining the nuclei of atoms to form another.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

States that there is no net flow of heat between two systems in thermal contact that have the same temperature

Dalton's Atomic Theory

- All matter is composed of extremely small particles called atoms - Atoms of a given element are identical in size, mass and other properties - Atoms cannot be subdivided, created, or destroyed in chemical reactions - Atoms of different elements can combine in simple, whole-number ratios to form chemical compounds. - In chemical reactions, atoms are combined, seperated, or rearranged

Law of Multiple Proportions

atoms combine to form compounds in simple, whole-number ratios.

Electron Cloud

the region around the nucleus of the atom, mostly empty space, where electrons orbit

Orbital

A three-dimensional region around the nucleus in which electrons can be located

Ionic Compound

formed when an electron from one atom is lost to another and the two ions form an ionic bond

Covalent Bond

forms when atoms share some of their electrons

What is the Mass-Conversion Equation?

e=mc^2

What happens when a particle and its antiparticle encounter each other?

They annihilate each other.

What is the result of the annihilation of a particle and its antiparticle?

Their mass is converted into energy.

Radioactivity

the emission of radiation caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei

Radiation

the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves

What are alpha particles made of?

2 protons and 2 neutrons (helium nucleus)