Physics 9702 A2 Level Definitions
Absolute Zero - correct answer-The theoretical temperature at which the molecules of a
substance have the lowest energy and hence the substance has minimum internal energy
and no kinetic energy
acoustic impedance - correct answer-product of density of medium and speed of sound in
medium
Activity - correct answer-The number of atoms of a radioactive substance that decay per unit
time.
amplitude modulation - correct answer-amplitude of carrier wave varies in synchrony with the
displacement of the information signal
Analogue signal - correct answer-data varies continuously with time and can have any value
between two limits
Angular Velocity - correct answer-the rate of change of angular displacement with respect to
time swept out by the radius
Attenuation - correct answer-gradual reduction or loss in signal power or energy
Avogadro constant - correct answer-number of atoms of carbon-12 in 0.012 kg of carbon-12
Bandwidth - correct answer-the range of frequencies that can be amplified by the same
amount of an operational amplifier
Binding Energy - correct answer-The amount of energy needed to split a nucleus completely
into its individual nucleons.
Binding Energy per Nucleon - correct answer-Binding energy divided by the mass or nucleon
number of the nucleus.
capacitance - correct answer-ratio of charge on body and its potential
Centripetal Acceleration - correct answer-Acceleration which is always perpendicular to the
velocity and always acts towards the centre of the circular motion.
Centripetal Force - correct answer-The resultant perpendicular force acting on an object
moving in circular motion
Coaxial cables - correct answer-a pair of wires arranged so that one wire is shrouded by the
other
, contrast - correct answer-difference blackening in different regions due to different
absorption coefficient
Coulomb's Law - correct answer-The force between two point charges is directly proportional
to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between the charges.
cross-talk - correct answer-picking up of signal in one cable from a second nearby cable
damping - correct answer-continuous loss in energy from the oscillating system due to force
always acting in opposite direction to the motion
de Broglie wavelength - correct answer-wavelength of wave that is associated with a particle
that is moving
decay constant - correct answer-probability of decay of a nucleus per unit time
digital signal - correct answer-consists of a series of pulses of highs and lows between two
discrete levels and has no intermediate values
Electric Field Strength - correct answer-force per unit positive charge acting on a small
stationary positive test charge placed at that point
Electric Potential - correct answer-work done per unit charge in bringing a positive test
charge from infinity to the point (without a change in kinetic energy).
Electronvolt - correct answer-energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through a
p.d. of one volt.
Faraday's Law - correct answer-Whenever there is a change in magnetic flux linkage of a
circuit or coil, an e.m.f. is induced in the circuit and the magnitude is directly proportional to
the rate of change of magnetic flux linkage of the circuit or coil.
fibre-optic transmission - correct answer-signal is in the form of a series of pulses of light
which pass along a glass fibre as a result of total internal reflection
field of force - correct answer-region (of space) where a body experiences a force
First Law of Thermodynamics - correct answer-The First Law of Thermodynamics states that
the internal energy of a system depends only on the thermodynamic state of the system; the
increase in the internal energy of a system is equal to the sum of the heat supplied to the
system and the work done on the system.
Forced Oscillation - correct answer-When the system is forced to oscillate at a frequency
other than the natural frequency by a periodic external force.
free oscillations - correct answer-oscillations with no external forces acting
Absolute Zero - correct answer-The theoretical temperature at which the molecules of a
substance have the lowest energy and hence the substance has minimum internal energy
and no kinetic energy
acoustic impedance - correct answer-product of density of medium and speed of sound in
medium
Activity - correct answer-The number of atoms of a radioactive substance that decay per unit
time.
amplitude modulation - correct answer-amplitude of carrier wave varies in synchrony with the
displacement of the information signal
Analogue signal - correct answer-data varies continuously with time and can have any value
between two limits
Angular Velocity - correct answer-the rate of change of angular displacement with respect to
time swept out by the radius
Attenuation - correct answer-gradual reduction or loss in signal power or energy
Avogadro constant - correct answer-number of atoms of carbon-12 in 0.012 kg of carbon-12
Bandwidth - correct answer-the range of frequencies that can be amplified by the same
amount of an operational amplifier
Binding Energy - correct answer-The amount of energy needed to split a nucleus completely
into its individual nucleons.
Binding Energy per Nucleon - correct answer-Binding energy divided by the mass or nucleon
number of the nucleus.
capacitance - correct answer-ratio of charge on body and its potential
Centripetal Acceleration - correct answer-Acceleration which is always perpendicular to the
velocity and always acts towards the centre of the circular motion.
Centripetal Force - correct answer-The resultant perpendicular force acting on an object
moving in circular motion
Coaxial cables - correct answer-a pair of wires arranged so that one wire is shrouded by the
other
, contrast - correct answer-difference blackening in different regions due to different
absorption coefficient
Coulomb's Law - correct answer-The force between two point charges is directly proportional
to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between the charges.
cross-talk - correct answer-picking up of signal in one cable from a second nearby cable
damping - correct answer-continuous loss in energy from the oscillating system due to force
always acting in opposite direction to the motion
de Broglie wavelength - correct answer-wavelength of wave that is associated with a particle
that is moving
decay constant - correct answer-probability of decay of a nucleus per unit time
digital signal - correct answer-consists of a series of pulses of highs and lows between two
discrete levels and has no intermediate values
Electric Field Strength - correct answer-force per unit positive charge acting on a small
stationary positive test charge placed at that point
Electric Potential - correct answer-work done per unit charge in bringing a positive test
charge from infinity to the point (without a change in kinetic energy).
Electronvolt - correct answer-energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through a
p.d. of one volt.
Faraday's Law - correct answer-Whenever there is a change in magnetic flux linkage of a
circuit or coil, an e.m.f. is induced in the circuit and the magnitude is directly proportional to
the rate of change of magnetic flux linkage of the circuit or coil.
fibre-optic transmission - correct answer-signal is in the form of a series of pulses of light
which pass along a glass fibre as a result of total internal reflection
field of force - correct answer-region (of space) where a body experiences a force
First Law of Thermodynamics - correct answer-The First Law of Thermodynamics states that
the internal energy of a system depends only on the thermodynamic state of the system; the
increase in the internal energy of a system is equal to the sum of the heat supplied to the
system and the work done on the system.
Forced Oscillation - correct answer-When the system is forced to oscillate at a frequency
other than the natural frequency by a periodic external force.
free oscillations - correct answer-oscillations with no external forces acting
