LIST OF THE GREAT DEFINITIONS

Chapter 1 - Physical Quantities and Units

1. Physical quantity is a measurable quantity that has a magnitude and unit.

2. Vector quantity is a physical quantity that requires both magnitude and direction.
3. Scalar quantity is a physical quantity that requires only magnitude.

Chapter 2 - Errors and Uncertainty

1. Random error is a scatter of reading around the mean value.

2. Systematic error is an error that causes the readings to deviate from the real value by a fixed
magnitude and direction.
3. Precision – the values are said to be precise when they repeat themselves most of the time.
4. Accuracy – the values are said to be accurate when it gives a value which is near to the actual
value.

Chapter 3 – Kinematics

1. Distance – Total length from a starting point OR Total distance between 2 points.
2. Displacement – Distance travelled/moved in a certain direction from a given point OR
shortest distance between 2 points in a straight line.
3. Speed – Distance travelled per unit time.
4. Velocity – Rate of change of displacement with respect to time.
5. Acceleration – Rate of change of velocity with respect to time OR Velocity per unit time.
6. Momentum – Defined as the product of an object’s mass and its velocity.
7. Impulse - Product of force and time which force is acting.

Chapter 4 – Dynamics

1. Newton’s 1st Law – Every object continues to be in a state of rest or move with constant
velocity unless a resultant external force act on it.
2. Newton’s 2nd Law – The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the
resultant force acting on it and occurs in the direction of the force (1 object, 2 forces)
3. Newton’s 3rd Law – If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B will exert and equal but
opposite force on body A (1 force, 2 objects, forces are of the same type)
4. Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum – In a system of colliding objects, the total
momentum before collision is equal to the total momentum after collision in the same
direction provided no external force acts on it.
5. Inertia of an object is its reluctance to change its state of motion.
6. Force is the rate of change of momentum of an object.
 Δ𝑝 m(v − u)
𝐹= =
Δ𝑡 Δt
7. Period = Trace length × Time-based setting

Chapter 5 – Force

1. Upthrust – Upward force acting on an object due to pressure differences between the top and
bottom surfaces of an object.
2. Viscosity – The frictional force between adjacent layers of fluids as they move past one
another.
3. Static equilibrium – When an object that is not moving has a resultant force of zero.
4. Dynamic equilibrium – An object that is moving and has a resultant force of zero (constant
velocity)
5. Centre of mass – It is a point where all the mass of the object is assumed to act.
6. Centre of gravity – It is a point where all the weight of the object is assumed to act.
7. Mass – The amount of matter within an object and its measurement of inertia of the object
OR Measure of a body’s resistance to change in motion/velocity. It is a scalar quantity
measured in kilograms and remains constant at any point of the universe.
Distinguish with weight
8. Weight – Its gravitational force acting on a mass due to a gravitational field. It is a vector
quantity and measured in Newton and varies with the g value.
9. Moment – Turning effect of a force OR The product of force and perpendicular distance from
pivot OR The product of force and perpendicular distance between axis of rotation and line of
force. (No resultant force, no resultant moment)
10. Equilibrium – Sum of forces at any point equals zero, sum of moments about any point is
equal to zero.
11. Principle of Moments – It states that ‘If a system is in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise
moment is equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments.’
12. Couple – 2 equal and opposite forces where the line of action does not coincide.
13. Torque – The product of one of the forces and the perpendicular distance between the forces.

Chapter 6 – Work, Energy, & Power

1. Energy – stored ability to do work.

2. Gravitation of potential energy – The stored ability to do work due to the position of the
mass in a gravitational field.
3. Work – The product of force and the distance moved in the direction of the force.
4. Kinetic energy – The energy an object has due to its motion OR stored ability to do work due
to motion.
 5. Potential energy – The stored ability of a body to do work because of its position or shape.
6. Elastic potential energy – The stored ability to do work due to the spring’s extension or
compression from equilibrium position/ due to object being deformed.
7. Internal energy – The sum of microscopic random kinetic energy an elastic potential energy
of all the atoms or molecules within the object.
8. Principle of Conservation of Energy – It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it
is only converted or transformed from one form to another.
9. Power – Rate of work done.
10. Electrical potential energy – The stored ability to do work due to position in an electric field.

Phases of matter & Deformation of solid

1. Density – Mass per unit volume.

2. Pressure – The normal force acting per unit area.
3. Hooke’s Law – It states that the extension of a rigid body is directly proportional to the force
exerted provided it is within its elastic limit.
4. Stress – Force applied per unit cross-sectional area.
5. Strain – The ratio of extension to the original length.
6. Young Modulus (E) – The ratio of the stress applied to the strain experience by the object.
7. Ultimate tensile stress/ Tensile strength – It is the maximum stress of an object can withstand
before necking (breaking stress)
8. Crystal – A collection of atoms or molecules in which atoms is placed precisely in a definite
pattern with respect to its neighbours.
9. Amorphous/ Non-crystalline – Particles assembled in a more disordered way and only show
order for short distances.

Chapter 10 – Waves

1. Displacement – Distance from equilibrium position (vector)

2. Amplitude – Maximum distance from equilibrium position (scalar)
3. Period – Time taken for 1 complete wavelength to pass through a point OR Time for one
complete oscillation of particle.
4. Frequency – No. of complete wavelength passing through a point per unit time.
5. Wavelength – Smallest distance between w points OR Distance between two adjacent points
that are in phase with each other.
6. Phase difference (Phase°) – The time lapse (lag) between two waves passing through a point
(Fraction of a cycle of a wave)
7. Path difference – The difference in distance (meters) moved between two waves when
passing through a point.
 8. Transverse wave – A wave motion where the displacements of the particles (disturbance/
vibrations) are at right angle to the direction of the wave (energy of propagation)
9. Longitudinal wave – A wave motion where the displacements of the particles are parallel to
the motion of the wave.
10. Polarization – Vibration of particles is all in a certain direction/ plane.
11. Polaroid – A material that transmits only those components of any light which is incident on
it, which are in a particular direction.
12. Progressive wave - wave motion where energy is propagated form a point (source) to the
surroundings.
13. Stationary (Standing) wave – A wave where the energy is confined within a fixed region. It
occurs due to the superposition of 2 progressive waves of the equal frequency and amplitude
travelling in the opposite direction (due to reflection of 2 progressive waves due to the
incident progressive wave and reflected wave, the waves undergo superposition to create a
standing wave.

Chapter 11 – Superposition

1. The Principle of Superposition states that when 2 or more waves of the same type meet at the
same place at the same time, the resultant displacement at any point is the vector sum of the
separate displacements due to the 2 waves at that point.
2. Coherent – Waves of the same frequency have constant phase difference with each other.
3. Interference – Change in intensity coherent observed when 2 or more waves meet at a point.
4. Doppler’s effect – Apparent change of frequency due to movement of source towards or away
from observers.
5. Diffraction – Spreading of waves after they pass through a small aperture (opening) or
around small obstacle.

Chapter 17 – Electric field

1. Electric field strength – It is defined as force per unit positive test charge at that point in an
electric field.
2. Electric field – A region where electrostatic force acts on a charged object.

Chapter 19 – Current of electricity

1. Electric current – The rate which positive charges flow passes a given point in a conductor
acts on a charged object OR The rate of transfer of charged particles.
2. Charge – The current flows pass a point in a given time.
𝑄 = 𝐼𝑡
3. Power – Rate of work done.
 4. Resistance – Ratio of potential difference across a conductor to the current flowing through it.
5. Ohm’s Law – The current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across it, provided that its temperature remains constant.
6. Potential difference – The amount of energy converted form electrical energy to other forms
of energy when positive test charge passes from one point to another in a circuit OR Work
done per unit positive test charge when charge moves from one point to another.
Distinguish between pd and emf in terms of energy
7. Electromotive force – The potential difference across the terminals of the source when there
is no current flow in the circuit open switch OR Other forms of energy converted to electrical
energy per unit positive test charge.

Chapter 20 – DC Circuit

1. Kirchhoff’s 1st Law – It states that “The algebraic sum of currents at a junction is zero.” It
means that the total current into the junction is equal to that total current out of junction
[Conservation of charge]
2. Kirchhoff’s 2nd Law – It states that “Around any closed circuit, the algebraic sum of emf is
equal to the sum of potential difference.” It means that the energy gained by the charge from
the power supply will be lost to the equipment [Conservation of energy]
Terminal pd = external voltage

The Atomic Structure and Radioactivity

1. Isotopes – Atoms of an element that has the same proton number but different nucleon
number.
2. Nuclide – A nucleus without electrons orbiting it.
3. Radioactive decay/ Nuclear decay – An unstable nucleus disintegrates to become more stable
with the release of alpha, beta particle or gamma ray.
4. Random decay – We can’t predict which particle and when it is going to decay. Probability of
decay is constant for a nucleus. (Nucleus has a constant probability of decay per unit time)
5. Spontaneous decay – The decay rate is unaffected by any physical or chemical conditions
such as temperature or pressure.