Terms &
Definitions
To Ace Physical Sciences
,Grade 12: Paper 1 (Physics)
Table of Contents: Terms and Important Points relevant to …. Page
1. Newton’s Laws and Application …………………………..….. 3
2. Momentum and Impulse ………………………………………..... 4
3. Vertical Projectile Motion …………………………………….….... 5
4. Work, Energy and Power …………………….……………………. 6
5. Doppler Effect ……………………………………………………… 7
6. Electrostatics ……..………………………………………………...... 8
, 7. Electric Circuits ……………………………………………………... 8
8. Electrical Machines …………………………………………………… 9
9. Optical Phenomena and Properties of Materials …………………… 11
Mechanics: Newton’s Laws and Application
normal force N … the force or the component of a force which a surface exerts on an object
with which it is in contact, and which is perpendicular to the surface
frictional force f … the force that opposes the motion of an object and which acts parallel to
the surface; f = μN
static frictional fs … the force that opposes the tendency of motion of a STATIONARY object
force relative to a surface. The static frictional force is a maximum (f smax) just before
the object starts to move across the surface. fs = μsN
kinetic frictional fk … the force that opposes the motion of a MOVING object relative to a
force surface; fk = μkN
force diagram a diagram that shows the relative magnitudes and directions of forces acting
on a body/particle that has been isolated from its surroundings
free-body This is a diagram that shows the relative magnitudes and directions of forces
Definitions
To Ace Physical Sciences
,Grade 12: Paper 1 (Physics)
Table of Contents: Terms and Important Points relevant to …. Page
1. Newton’s Laws and Application …………………………..….. 3
2. Momentum and Impulse ………………………………………..... 4
3. Vertical Projectile Motion …………………………………….….... 5
4. Work, Energy and Power …………………….……………………. 6
5. Doppler Effect ……………………………………………………… 7
6. Electrostatics ……..………………………………………………...... 8
, 7. Electric Circuits ……………………………………………………... 8
8. Electrical Machines …………………………………………………… 9
9. Optical Phenomena and Properties of Materials …………………… 11
Mechanics: Newton’s Laws and Application
normal force N … the force or the component of a force which a surface exerts on an object
with which it is in contact, and which is perpendicular to the surface
frictional force f … the force that opposes the motion of an object and which acts parallel to
the surface; f = μN
static frictional fs … the force that opposes the tendency of motion of a STATIONARY object
force relative to a surface. The static frictional force is a maximum (f smax) just before
the object starts to move across the surface. fs = μsN
kinetic frictional fk … the force that opposes the motion of a MOVING object relative to a
force surface; fk = μkN
force diagram a diagram that shows the relative magnitudes and directions of forces acting
on a body/particle that has been isolated from its surroundings
free-body This is a diagram that shows the relative magnitudes and directions of forces
