Cambridge A Level Physics

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Definitions
A combination of markscheme answers and textbook definitions.

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AS Level Physics Terms & Concepts

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Lvl Ch Term Definition

Some combination of the base units. The base units may be multiplied together
AS 1 Derived Units
or divided by one another, but never added or subtracted.
When each term has the same base units, the equation is said to be
AS 1 Homogeneous Units
homogeneous or ‘balanced’.
AS 1 Scalar A quantity that has magnitude/size
AS 1 Vector A quantity that has magnitude/size and direction
How close a reading is to its true value. When readings are accurate, the peak /
AS 1 Accuracy
average value moves towards the true value
Smallest change in value that can be measured by an instrument. OR Spread of
AS 1 Precision values / measurements (scatter between each data is relatively small/ lines are
closer together / sharper peak)
Readings have positive and negative values around the peak value / values are
AS 1 Random errors scattered / wide range. To reduce errors, take several readings to get an average
value.
The average / peak is not the true value / the readings are not centred around
AS 1 Systematic Error
the true value. Look/check for zero error to avoid systematic error.
AS 1 Uncertainty The range of value within which a measurement is likely to be in.
AS 2 Acceleration (vector) Rate of change of velocity.
Displacement is the straight line distance between start and finish points (in that direction) /
AS 2
(vector) minimum distance
AS 2 Distance (scalar) is the actual path travelled
The downward motion of an object under the influence of force of gravity with a
AS 2 Free Fall
constant acceleration (g = 9.81 ms-2).
 Objects acted upon by a force with vector at perpendicular to its horizontal
AS 2 Projectile motion velocity. Asume zero frictional forces. Tracjectory of the object will result in a
parabola.
AS 2 Speed (scalar) Distance travelled per unit time taken
AS 2 Terminal velocity Constant speed of object when resultant force is zero due to large air resistance.
AS 2 Velocity (vector) Rate of change of displacement
Conservation Of Total momentum of (an isolated) system (of interacting bodies) remains constant,
AS 3
Momentum provided there are no resultant external forces (e.g. friction)
Total momentum and total Kinetic Energy of a system is conserved. Relative
AS 3 Elastic Collisions
speed of approach is equal to the relative speed of separation
AS 3 Force Rate of change of momentum
AS 3 Force It is defined as the rate of change of momentum of a body
AS 3 Impulse It is the product of a force & the time during which the force is applied.
Total momentum of a system is conserved, but the total Kinetic Energy is not
AS 3 Inelastic Collisions
conserved. Speed before impact is not equal to speed
Product of an object's mass & velocity, with its direction always being the same
AS 3 Linear Momentum
as the direction of velocity.
It is a measure of inertia of a body or the property of a body that resists change in
AS 3 Mass
motion
A body remains at rest or constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant
AS 3 Newton’s 1st Law
(external) force
AS 3 Newton’s 2nd Law The (resultant) force is proportional to the rate of change of momentum
If one body exerts a force on another, it will experience a force by the other body,
AS 3 Newton’s 3rd Law which is equal in magnitude & opposite in direction. Both forces are the of the
same kind.
AS 3 Weight Weight is the force due to the gravitational field
The point on an object at which the entire weight of the body seemingly acts. It is
AS 4 Centre Of Gravity
the point at which the Earth actually applies the pull of gravity.
AS 4 Density Amount of mass per unit volume of a substance.
Net / resultant force and moment is zero (OR sum of clockwise moments = sum
AS 4 Equilibrium of anticlockwise moments). If the triangle of forces is ‘closed’ then there is no
resultant force and the object is in equilibrium.
AS 4 Moment / Torque Product of the force and the perpendicular distance to the pivot
AS 4 Pressure The perpendicular/normal force applied per unit area
Principle Of The sum of the clockwise moments about a point equals the sum of the
AS 4
Moments anticlockwise moments (about the same point)
Product of one of the forces and perpendicular distance between forces. (The
AS 4 Torque Of A Couple turning effect caused by two equal & opposite forces when their line of actions
are different.)
It is the resultant force on a submerged object due to pressure difference
AS 4 Upthrust between the higher pressure at the bottom of the object and the lower pressure
at the top of the object immersed in a fluid.

AS 5 Energy It is the stored ability to do work.

AS 5 Work Done Product of a force & the distance moved in the direction of the force.
 Gravitational
AS 5 Energy stored due to height/position of mass
Potential Energy
It is the total of the microscopic Kinetic & Potential energies of particles of a
AS 5 Internal Energy
material.
AS 5 Kinetic Energy Energy of an object due to its motion.
AS 5 Potential Energy Energy stored by an object to do work
Elastic Potential
AS 5 Energy stored due to deformation or change in shape of an object
Energy
Electric potential
AS 5 Potential energy (stored) when charge moved due to work done in electric field
energy
AS 5 Power Rate of work done
AS 5 Efficiency The fraction of the useful power output obtained from the total power input.
Materials which do not undergo plastic deformation. Force proportional to
AS 6 Brittle Materials
extension until it breaks
Materials which undergo plastic deformation after a considerable elastic
AS 6 Ductile Materials deformation. Initially force proportional to extension then a large extension for
small change in force
AS 6 Elastic Deformation Object returns to its original length (zero extension) when load is removed
The area under such a graph is the work done in stretching a material. For the
Force-Extension straight-line portion of the graph, it is a measure of the elastic potential energy
AS 6
Graph stored by the material, provided that the graph for decreasing loads is the same
as that for increasing loads. It is also known as strain energy.
Force/load is proportional to extension/compression if proportionality limit is not
AS 6 Hooke's Law
exceeded.
When a sufficiently large force is applied, localized narrowing occurs at weak
AS 6 Necking
points, & the wire eventually breaks at one of these points.
Wire/body object does not return to its original shape / length when load is
AS 6 Plastic Deformation
removed
Materials which can undergo great strain, & deform to a very great degree. E.g.
AS 6 Polymeric Materials
rubber, glass, cement
AS 6 Strain Extension over original length (ratio). Stress is the cause & strain is the effect.
AS 6 Stress It is the force per unit cross-section area required to stretch a material.
Ultimate Tensile The maximum force / original cross-sectional area the wire is able to support
AS 6
Strength before it breaks
Ultimate Tensile
AS 6 The maximum value of stress that an object can sustain before it breaks.
Stress
AS 6 Young’s Modulus Ratio of stress to strain.
AS 7 Progressive wave The transfer or propagation of energy as a result of oscillations / vibrations
A wave in which displacement of particles is perpendicular to the direction of
AS 7 Transverse Waves wave propagation, resulting in crests & troughs. Transverse waves have
vibrations that are perpendicular / normal to the direction of energy travel
A wave in which displacement of particles is parallel to the direction of wave
AS 7 Longitudinal Waves propagation. Longitudinal waves have vibrations that are parallel to the direction
of energy travel
AS 7 Wavelength Distance moved by wave energy / wavefront during one cycle of the source or
minimum distance between two points with the same phase or between adjacent
 crests or troughs.
AS 7 Frequency (Hz) Number of oscillations per unit time (not per second)
The time taken to complete one oscillation/cycle. Or time between adjacent
AS 7 Period
wavefonts.
AS 7 Amplitude Maximum displacement of a particle in the wave
AS 7 Displacement Distance (of point on wave) from rest / equilibrium position
The difference in the relative positions of the crests or troughs of two waves of
AS 7 Phase Difference
the same frequency expressed in radians or degrees.
AS 7 (Wave) Intensity The intensity of a wave is the energy passing through unit area per unit time.
Speed at which energy is transferred / speed of wavefront. It is NOT the speed
AS 7 (Wave) Speed
with which particles in the wave move.
AS 7 Doppler Effect Change in observed frequency when source moves relative to the observer
electromagnetic waves (a transverse wave) can travel through a vacuum / free
Electromagnetic
AS 7 space. The displacement in the case of electromagnetic waves is a variation in
Waves
the electric & magnetic fields perpendicular to each other.
Oscillations or vibrations are in one direction, perpendicular to direction of
AS 7 Polarisation
propagation.
The transfer of energy is due to a progressive wave, NOT a standing/stationary
AS 8 Transfer of Energy
wave.
AS 8 Coherence Two waves with a constant phase difference are said to be coherent.
Principle of When two waves of the with similar frequency &amp meet/overlap, the resultant
AS 8
Superposition displacement is the sum of the individual displacement of each wave.
AS 8 Node Position along wave with no motion / zero amplitude
AS 8 Antinode Position along wave with maximum amplitude.
Constructive Two waves' path difference is either λ or nλ, OR phase difference is 360°or n
AS 8
Interference ×360° or n2π
Destructive Two waves' path difference is either λ/2 or (n+ ½) λ OR phase difference is odd
AS 8
Interference multiple of either 180° or π rad
Two waves of same frequency/wavelength travelling (along the same line) in
AS 8 Stationary Waves opposite directions overlap/meet. The resultant displacement is the sum of
displacements of each wave / produces nodes and antinodes
Does not transfer energy (no energy transfer). The amplitude of standing wave
Stationary Wave
AS 8 varies along its length/nodes and antinodes.Neighboring points (in inter-nodal
Properties
loop) vibrate in phase
Fringe
AS 8 The separation between one bright fringe & the next bright fringe.
Width/Separation
When two waves superpose/overlap, the resultant displacement is the sum of
AS 8 Interference individual displacements of overlapping waves, forming alternating maxima and
minima.
When a wave (front) passes by/incident on an edge/slit, the wave spreads into
AS 8 Diffraction
the geometrical shadow
When waves pass through the gaps / slits in the grating, the wave bends/spreads
AS 8 Diffraction Grating
(into the geometrical shadow)
AS 8 Refraction The change in direction of a wave due to change in speed.
If a charge of 1 Coulomb passes through an electrical component per second,
AS 9 Ampere
then the current maintained is 1 Ampere