SCIENCE KEY WORDS – PHYSICS
Acceleration Rate of change in velocity. Measured in m/s2.
The maximum distance that a wave has from its rest position.
Amplitude
Conductor
Material through which an electric current or heat will flow through easily.
Electrical current is a flow of charge. In wires, the charges are carried by electrons.
Current
In fluids, the charges are carried by ions. Measured in amperes (A).
Dispersion
Splitting up of white light into the colours of the spectrum.
Electricity
A form of energy produced by the movement of electrons.
Electromagnetic The range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation
spectrum
extends.
Energy enables something to do physical work involving the application of a force.
Energy
Measured in Joules (J).
Fission
The splitting of an atomic nucleus to produce nuclear energy.
Forces are pushes and pulls that make things move or change shape. Measured in
Force
Newtons (N).
Frequency
Number of waves that pass a fixed point per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz).
Friction
Friction is a resisting force between two surfaces rubbing against each other.
Fusion
The joining of atomic nuclei to produce nuclear energy.
The force that attracts a body toward the centre of the earth, or toward any other
Gravity
physical body having mass.
Insulator
Material through which an electric current or heat will not flow through easily.
Light
Electromagnetic radiation that has a speed of 299 792 458 metres per second.
Mass
A measure of the amount of matter in an object. Measured in kilograms (kg)
Matter
Matter is the stuff that everything is made from.
Power
The amount of energy transferred per second. Power is measured in watts (W).
The emission of heat energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic
Radiation
particles.
Radioactivity The emission of particles or electromagnetic waves from the nucleus of an atom.
Reflection
Change in direction of a sound or light wave when it hits a surface.
Refraction
Bending of light as it passes though materials with different densities.
Resistance is the extent to which a conductor hinders the flow of an electric current.
Resistance
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ώ).
Sound
Vibrations that pass through solids, liquids and gases.
A band of colours, as seen in a rainbow, produced by separation of the components
Spectrum
of light by their different degrees of refraction.
Speed is a measure of how quickly something moves through a given distance. It is
Speed
measured in metres per second (m/s) and calculated by using the formula speed =
distance ÷ time.
Static
Build up of electric charge from friction between insulating materials.
electricity
Velocity
Velocity is speed in a stated direction. The unit of velocity is m/s.
Voltage
The measure of energy available to drive a current. Measured in volts (V).
The distance between one peak or crest of a wave of light, heat, or other energy
Wavelength
and the next.
The force of gravity on a mass. It is given by the equation weight = mass × gravity
Weight
where, on Earth, gravity = 9.8 N/kg.
Physical work is done when a force makes something move. Work is defined by the
Work
formula work done = force × distance. Measured in newton metres (Nm).