IGCSE Edexcel Physics Definitions

Motion and Forces

Difference between speed and velocity: Speed is how fast something is moving (a scalar), while
velocity is speed in a given direction (a vector).

Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity per unit time. Acceleration = change in velocity / time

Gravity: The force of attraction between objects due to their mass. On Earth, it gives objects an
acceleration of approximately 9.8 m/s.

Difference between weight and mass: Mass is the amount of matter in an object (scalar, in kg);
weight is the force acting on that mass due to gravity (vector, in N).

Friction: A force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.

Newton's First Law: An object will remain at rest or move at a constant velocity unless acted upon
by a resultant force.

Newton's Second Law: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the resultant force
and inversely proportional to its mass. F = m a

Resultant Force: The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object
combined.

Scalar quantity: A quantity that has magnitude only (e.g., speed, mass, time).

Vector quantity: A quantity that has both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force).

Terminal velocity: The constant speed reached by a falling object when the force of air resistance
equals the weight of the object.

Forces and Materials

Hooke's Law: The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied, provided the limit
of proportionality is not exceeded. F = k x

Elastic limit: The maximum force an object can take and still return to its original shape when the
force is removed.

Limit of proportionality: The point beyond which the extension is no longer proportional to the force.

Elastic deformation: When an object returns to its original shape after the force is removed.

Stopping Distances

Thinking distance: The distance travelled by a vehicle during the driver's reaction time.
Braking distance: The distance a vehicle travels under the braking force.

Stopping distance: The total distance taken to stop a vehicle = Thinking distance + Braking distance.

Electricity

Current: The flow of electric charge (electrons) around a circuit. I = Q / t

Resistance: A measure of how much a component resists the flow of current. R = V / I

Voltage: The energy transferred per unit charge. V = E / Q

Light dependent resistor (LDR): A resistor whose resistance decreases as light intensity increases.

Thermistor: A resistor whose resistance decreases as temperature increases.

Series circuit: A circuit in which components are connected one after another in a single loop. The
current is the same everywhere.

Parallel circuit: A circuit in which components are connected across common points. The voltage is
the same across each branch.

Difference between series and parallel: In series, current is the same and voltage is shared. In
parallel, voltage is the same and current is shared.

Charge: A physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electric field. Q = I t

Energy transferred: The amount of electrical energy converted to other forms. E = Q V

Earth wire: A safety wire that carries current safely to the ground if a fault occurs.

Fuse: A safety device that melts and breaks the circuit if the current is too high.

Circuit breaker: A safety device that automatically switches off the circuit if too much current flows.

Difference between a fuse and circuit breaker: A fuse melts and needs replacing; a circuit breaker
can be reset and used again.

Electrical power: The rate of energy transfer in a circuit. P = V I

Why resistors get hot: When current flows through a resistor, electrical energy is converted to
thermal energy due to collisions between electrons and atoms.

Waves

Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs.

Frequency: The number of waves that pass a point in one second. f = 1 / T

Amplitude: The maximum displacement from the rest position.

Wave speed: The speed at which the wave travels. v = f

Transverse wave: A wave in which the particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel
(e.g., light).

Longitudinal wave: A wave in which the particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel (e.g.,
sound).

Difference between transverse and longitudinal: In transverse, vibrations are perpendicular; in

Wavefronts: Imaginary lines representing points of equal phase, such as crests in a wave.

Doppler Effect: The change in frequency (or wavelength) of a wave in relation to an observer moving
relative to the wave source.

Light and Optics

Electromagnetic waves (EM waves): Transverse waves that transfer energy and can travel through
a vacuum at the speed of light.

Reflection: The change in direction of a wave at a surface, so it bounces back.

Refraction: The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another due to a
change in speed.

Angle of incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.

Angle of refraction: The angle between the refracted ray and the normal.

Refractive index: A measure of how much light slows down in a material. n = sin i / sin r

Critical angle: The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

Total internal reflection: When light is completely reflected inside a material at the boundary with a
less dense medium, occurring when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.