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H2 PHYSICS DEFINITIONS LIST

Term Definition
SECTION I: MEASUREMENT
Chapter 1: Measurement
Scalar A scalar quantity is one which has magnitude but no
direction.
Vector A vector is a quantity which has direction as well as
magnitude.
SECTION II: NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Chapter 2: Kinematics
Displacement, s Total distance moved by an object along a particular
direction.
Speed The rate of change of distance with respect to time.
Velocity, v The rate of change of displacement with respect to time.
Acceleration, a The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
Average speed/velocity The average rate of change of distance/displacement with
respect to time.
Instantaneous Velocity The rate of change of displacement with respect to time at a
particular time.
Chapter 3: Dynamics
Newton’s First Law A body continues in its state of rest or uniform motion in a
straight line unless a resultant external force acts on it.
Newton’s Second Law The rate of change of momentum of a body is proportional
to the resultant force acting on it and occurs in the direction
of the force.
Newton’s Third Law If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B exerts an
equal but opposite force on body A.
Linear Momentum The product of the mass of an object and its velocity.
Impulse Impulse is the area under the force-time graph.
Force, F The rate of change of momentum.
Principle of Conservation The total momentum of a system remains constant
of Momentum provided no external resultant forces act on the system.
OR
The total momentum of an isolated system of bodies is
constant.
Inertia The reluctance of a body to start moving or to change its
motion once it has started.
Equilibrium When the state of an object remains unchanged even
though two or more forces are acting on it.
Chapter 4: Forces
Hooke’s Law The force needed to cause an extension/compression in a
spring is directly proportional to its extension/compression.
Upthrust, U It is the upward force acting on an object that is partially or
fully immersed in a fluid. (RJCPromo07)
Equilibrium A system is in equilibrium if there is no resultant force and

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Centre of Gravity                   
        
Couple                 
                 
   
Moment of a Force         
           
 
Torque of a Couple, ttt                  
           
Archimedes’ Principle           
           
 
) /                   
      
*  0              
 
'   $                    
 
Chapter 5: Work, Energy and Power
Work Done            
 
Power %1   
Chapter 6: Motion in a Circle
Angular Velocity, w          

Centripetal Acceleration               
          
Uniform Circular Motion              
       
Centripetal Force                  
      
Chapter 7: Gravitational Field
Gravitational Field                    
          
      
Newton’s Law of 2  3              
Gravitation/Gravitational               
Force               
           
Gravitational Field               
Strength, g                
 
Gravitational Potential, fff 4         1  
          

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      1   &'()*+,-

4   *    4    *   $        
$   1                
         &       
6$-
Chapter 8: Oscillations
Amplitude           
Period, T   1       
Frequency, ƒ            
   
Simple Harmonic Motion               
             
&      -          
  
Resonance                 
       
Forced Oscillation %           
          
Natural Frequency          
      
7  "                  
       
SECTION III: THERMAL PHYSICS
Chapter 9: Thermal Physics
Internal Energy     1       
   1   
Thermal Equilibrium %              
   
Absolute Zero              
        "    
     
Kelvin, K  6     
.,5
8    
        9        
 
Specific Heat Capacity, c             

1 
6
Latent Heat          

Specific Latent Heat of          
1      
Fusion                
    
Specific Latent Heat of          
1      
Vaporisation         
    
First Law of  0   :            
Thermodynamics                

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     <       

                 
   1    
 * %            
    #      
= )                

6
4                  
             
     
SECTION IV: WAVES
Chapter 10: Wave Motion
Wavelength,lll                 
"        
 
Intensity, I         
Phase                  
     
Transverse Waves              
             
 
Longitudinal Waves           
           

Polarised Waves         
$     #           
'         
Chapter 11: Superposition
Principle of                   
Superposition               
                
&'())
+>-
Diffraction 7                 
   
Interference               
          
        &'()2 -
OR
             
    
        &  -     &1-  
 
         &'()* +,-
Coherence ?       
SECTION V: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
Chapter 12: Electric Fields

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Electric Field Strength, E            
      
    
Coulomb’s Law             
             
                

Uniform Electric Field $                  
         
Electric Potential, fff                      
1        
       &       1  
 -
Chapter 13: Current of Electricity
Electric Current, I         

Coulomb, C A          
                   
      
Potential Difference, E                   
                 
     
  
Volt, V A             
            
      
Resistance, R                   
          
Ohm, W W A                  
         
    
Electromotive Force                
(e.m.f.)                
       
" A   
Chapter 15: Electromagnetism
Magnetic Flux Density, B                  
                  
      &'()).+>-
Tesla, T             
  
      

         
2
$   "             
     
Chapter 16: Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Flux, fff /            

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Weber A            
           
Magnetic Flux Linkage, FF        1           
                
    
Faraday’s Law %              1  
     "              
                
    1    
Lenz’s Law : 93:              
         
Chapter 17: Alternating Current
RMS value of an                    
alternating current               
     
Mean Power                 
    )
Sinusoidal AC/Voltage )              
    
Rectification of an AC )   ) 7)
Half-wave Rectification 0   "            
  "     
          
SECTION VI: MODERN PHYSICS
Chapter 18: Quantum Physics
Photoelectric Effect                      
           
Work function,FF 1          
      
   
Square of the absolute *                  
magnitude of the Wave  "    
Function, Y ²
Potential Barrier                    
               
   
*         
   $    9                
        
      
    )            
'  )          
Chapter 19: Lasers and Semiconductors
Spontaneous Emission                   

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Stimulated Emission       "           
       "       
               
                
                 
       
Population Inversion %             
   
Intrinsic Semiconductor          
Extrinsic Semiconductor         
P-N Junction  *#2 (                 
         #   
      #   
?      %        
   
Chapter 20: Nuclear Physics
Nucleon Number (Mass      &       -  
Number)  
Proton Number (Atomic        
Number)
Mass Defect            
          
Binding Energy               
     
Binding Energy per !               
Nucleon   
Nuclear Fusion *             @8
           
 
Nuclear Fission *            @8
1        
Activity, A          
  
Decay constant       
Half life =             1   
       
2  2          
'          a "bg    
              
       

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