P1 exam: Key words to understand
There are lots of new key terms that you need to make sure you understand in preparation for your exam. It’s really
important that you recognise what each of the words mean and are able to use them correctly in a sentence. This
will help you to explain ideas scientifically and ensure you pick up important marks in your exam.
Some tips for learning science vocabulary.
Tip 1 -Play some games with the keywords
You could play hangman with your friends or family using the words you need to learn. Make sure you explain what
the word means when they have guessed it.
You could play Pictionary for some of the energy types or renewable energy sources. Ask someone to draw you a
picture for one of these terms and see if you can guess which one they are drawing.
Tip 2 – Use flash cards
Write out the key word and the definition on separate cards, mix them up and see if you can match the keyword
with the correct description.
Write the keyword on one side and the definition on the other. Look at the keyword side and see if you can
remember the definition or read the definition and try to remember the keyword. Turn the card over to check, or
ask someone else to read them out to you.
See if you can sort the keywords into groups of similar words. For example, you could group together all the words
that give a different type of energy. Try to explain why you have grouped them together to a friend or family
member.
Tip 3 – Spelling strategies
Use the spelling strategies that you talk about in tutor time to help with any words that you find difficult to spell.
Break it into sounds
Break it into syllables
Break it into word parts
Use a mnemonic
Refer to word in the same family
Say it as it sounds
Words within words
Make connections between words
Think about the meaning of words
Apply spelling rules
Learn by sight
(d-i-a-r-y)
(re-mem-ber, con-tin-ent)
(dis+satisfy)
(necessary—one collar, two sleeves, rhythm has your
two hips moving)
(muscle—muscular)
(Wed-nes-day)
(Parliament—I AM parliament, GUM in argument)
(bright, light, night, etc)
(bi+cycle = two+wheels)
(writing, written)
(look—cover—write—check)
Core Physics
Topic 1
Amplitude
Concave lens
Convection
Converging
Convex lens
Displacement
Diverge
Epicentre
Eyepiece lens
Focal length
Focal point
Focus
Frequency
Geocentric
Heliocentric
Hertz
Infrasound
Longitudinal waves
Normal
Objective lens
P wave
Pitch
Reflection
Refraction
S wave
Seismic waves
Seismometer
Transverse wave
Tsunami
Ultrasound
Wave speed
Wavelength
The maximum distance moved from the rest position. The distance between a peak or trough
and the rest position.
A lens which is thicker at the edges than in the centre.
Heating process in fluids which results in currents flowing around to spread heat, warmer
particles become less dense and rise upwards.
Bringing something in together or towards a point.
A lens which is thicker at the centre than at the edges.
The maximum vertical movement in a wave. The distance between a peak and a trough.
Spreading or directing away from a point.
The point on the surface of the Earth directly above the focus of an earthquake.
The lens closer to the observer’s eye which magnifies an image.
The distance between the lens and the focal point.
The point at which a crisp, real image is made on a screen by refraction through a convex lens.
The point at which an earthquake begins.
The number of waves passing a point per second.
Earth centred solar system.
Sun centred solar system.
The measurement of frequency. 1 Hertz is 1 waves per second.
Sound wave with a frequency below 20Hz, too low for humans to hear.
Waves in which the particles move back and forth (parallel) in the direction of the
wave/energy.
The line at a right angle to the surface of a mirror or other object hit by a wave.
The lens of a telescope closest to the object being observed. It captures light to create a real
image.
Longitudinal wave travelling through the Earth.
Whether a sound is high or low, dependent on wave frequency.
When a wave bounces off of a boundary between two materials.
The changing speed (resulting in a change in direction) of a wave when it enters new
materials.
Transverse wave travelling through the Earth.
Waves caused by an earthquake or explosion which travel through the earth.
A device which detects seismic waves.
A wave in which the movement is at right angles to the direction of the transfer of energy.
A large wave caused by an earthquake under the sea bed.
Sound waves with a frequency above 20,000Hz which is too high for humans to detect.
The distance travelled by a wave in one second.
The distance between a point on a wave, and the same point on the next wave.
Topic 2
Alpha radiation
Beta radiation
Cataracts
A large particle of ionising radiation.
A smaller particle of ionising radiation.
When the lens of the eye becomes damaged and cloudy due to over exposure to high
intensity light or ultra violet radiation.
Electromagnetic wave A group transverse waves which all travel at the same speed through a vacuum and form a
spectrum.
Fluorescent
An ability to absorb ultra violet radiation and emit visible light as a glow.
Gamma rays
High frequency electromagnetic waves. They are also another form of ionising radiation.
Illuminations
Devices which can improve visibility by emitting visible light.
Infrared
Electromagnetic radiation which we can feel as heat.
Ionising radiation
A particle or high energy wave which can cause an atom to become charged and cells to
become damaged.
Microwaves
An electromagnetic wave which can excite and vibrate water particles.
Mutations
A change in the DNA of a gene which can be as a result of exposure to ionising radiation.
Optic fibre
A glass or plastic strand which can transport infrared or more commonly visible light.
Radio waves
The waves of the electromagnetic spectrum with the longest wavelength.
Radiotherapy
The treatment of cancer using gamma rays.
Skin cancer
A disease brought on by the over exposure to ultra violet radiation.
Spectrometer
A device which can separate the different colours of the visible spectrum.
Sterilise
To kill microorganisms and bacteria.
Thermal imaging
Photography by collecting infrared radiation.
Ultra violet
Electromagnetic radiation with a higher frequency than visible light.
Vacuum
An area where there is no matter or air particles.
Visible light
Electromagnetic wave which can be detected by the human eye.
Visible spectrum
The seven colours ranging from red to violet which can be detected by the human eye.
X-rays
A lesser ionising electromagnetic wave than gamma.
Topic 3
Atmosphere
Big Bang Theory
Black hole
Cosmic Microwave
Background Radiation
Doppler effect
Extra-terrestrials
Fusion
Galaxy
Lander
Main sequence star
Milky Way
Nebula
Neutron star
Orbit
Protostar
Red giant
Red super giant
Rover
S.E.T.I
Solar system
Space probe
Spectral lines
Star
Steady State Theory
Supernova
Universe
White dwarf
A layer of gas which surrounds the earth which refracts and absorbs different electromagnetic
radiation.
The theory that the universe started in a single location with a lot of energy and has been
expanding ever since.
The core of a red super giant which collapsed at the end of its life cycle.
Background radiation received throughout space originating from the Big Bang.
The changing pitch of a sound as it comes nearer or moves further away.
Beings which live on planets other than our own.
A nuclear reaction where nuclei of atoms join together.
A large group of stars which are held together by gravity.
A space vehicle which lands on a planet or moon.
A star in its most stable state using hydrogen fusion.
Our galaxy
Cloud of dust and gas in space. The start of the life cycle of a star.
The core of a red supergiant which has collapsed.
The path taken by a planet or moon around a larger object.
A cloud of dust and gas which is drawn closer together by gravity but is yet to produce its own
energy through fusion.
A star which has used up all of its hydrogen fuel and has swollen in size as it starts to use
helium as its fuel.
A star much larger than our sun which has stopped using hydrogen as its fuel and began using
helium.
A space vehicle which can move around on a planet or moon.
Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. An organisation who search for extra-terrestrial life
by scanning for radio waves.
An area of space where objects are influenced by the sun’s gravity.
A vehicle which can be put into orbit around a planet and then parachute through its
atmosphere.
Dark lines on a spectrometer reading which help scientists determine what a star is made of.
They also help indicate a red shift.
A ball of gas which produces heat and light energy through fusion reactions.
A theory suggesting that as the universe is expanding new matter is continually being created
so that the universe keeps a constant density.
An explosion brought on by the collapse of a red supergiant.
The entirety of space.
A dense star formed from the dying of a red giant. No fusion occurs as it gradually gets
dimmer as it cools.
Topic 4
Alternating Current
Biofuels
Chemical potential
energy
Conductor (electrical)
Conservation of energy.
Cost-efficient
Current
Direct current
Dynamo
Efficiency
Elastic potential energy
Electricity
Electromagnet
Fossil fuel
Generator
Geothermal energy
Gravitational potential
energy
Hydroelectricity
Induction
Joule
Kilowatt (KW)
Kilowatt-hour
Kinetic Energy
Light energy
Magnetic field
National grid
Non-renewable energy
Nuclear potential
energy
Payback time
Power
Primary Coil
Renewable energy
resources
Secondary Coil
Slip rings
Solar cells
Solar energy
Sound energy
Step-down Transformer
Step-up Transformer
Thermal energy
Tidal power
Transformer
Voltage
Watt (W)
Wave power
Wind turbines
An electric current whose direction changes many times per second.
A renewable energy source made from the remains of dead organisms
Energy stored in substances which can be released through a chemical reaction. (such as combustion
and respiration)
A material which allows the flow of electricity through it.
A law stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be transformed from one form into
another.
Something which saves a lot of money when compared to the price it originally costs.
The rate of flow of charge.
A charge which flows in one direction.
A device which generates electricity using a spinning magnet.
The proportion of the input energy converted into a useful type.
Energy stored in materials that have been stretched or squashed and have the ability to return to its
original shape.
The flow of charged particles which can transfer energy.
A temporary magnet made from a current flowing through a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetic
material.
A non-renewable form of energy such as coal, oil or gas. These are formed over millions of years from
the remains of dead animals or plants.
A spinning coil in a magnetic field creating electricity.
Energy transferred by hot rocks deep underneath the Earth’s crust.
Energy stored in things held above the ground (things that can fall).
The transfer of gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy by falling water.
The creation of a current by the motion of a wire at right angles to the direction of a magnetic field.
The unit of energy.
A unit for measuring power, 1 KW = 1,000W.
The amount of energy transferred by a 1KW device in one hour.
Movement energy.
The energy of visible light.
The area around a magnet where magnetic material may experience a force.
A system of wires and transformers which distribute electricity across the country.
Energy resources which will eventually run out/be used up.
Energy stored inside the nucleus of an atom.
The time it takes to recover the initial cost through annual savings.
How quickly something transfers energy, measured in Watts (1 Joule per second).
The side of a transformer to which electricity is supplied.
Sources of energy which will not run out, such as solar or wind.
The side of a transformer from which the changed voltage is obtained.
Rings connected to the wires on a generator coil and to the rest of the circuit, designed to let the coil
spin without the wires getting twisted.
Devices designed to convert light energy into electrical energy.
Energy from the sun.
The energy transferred by sound waves.
A transformer which reduces Voltage. These have more coils on the primary coil than on the
secondary.
A transformer which increases Voltage. These have more coils on the secondary than on the primary.
Energy transferred by heating.
Generating electricity using the movement of the waves.
A device consisting of two coils of wire around an iron core which can change the voltage of an
alternating electrical supply.
The amount of energy transferred by a current.
The unit for measuring Power. 1 Watt is 1 Joule per second.
A way of generating electricity using the movement of water waves.
A kind of windmill which generates electricity when the movement of air spins its turbines.