AS LEVEL PHYSICS DEFINITIONS (CIE)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
SOLUTIONS 2024
Scalar - ANSWER a quantity that has a magnitude only
Vector - ANSWER a quantity that has both magnitude and direction
Precision - ANSWER The degree of agreement between several measurements of the same quantity and
is determined by the range of the values
Distinguish between accuracy and precision - ANSWER Accuracy is determined by the closeness of the
measurement to the true value while precision is determined by the range in values
Accuracy - ANSWER The closeness of measurement values to the true values
Systematic error - ANSWER the type of error that causes readings to deviate in one direction from the
true value
Random error - ANSWER the type of error which causes readings to scatter about the true value
distance - ANSWER Total length covered irrespective of the direction of motion
displacement - ANSWER Distance moved in a certain direction from start to end point
speed - ANSWER Distance travelled per unit time
velocity - ANSWER the rate of change of displacement
acceleration - ANSWER the rate of change of velocity
, Mass - ANSWER A property of a body that resists change in motion
Linear momentum - ANSWER the product of mass and velocity
force - ANSWER the rate of change of momentum
Newtons First Law - ANSWER A body continues in a state of rest or constant velocity unless acted upon
by a resultant force
Newtons Second Law - ANSWER The resultant force is equal to the rate of change of momentum and
acts in the direction of it.
Newtons Third Law - ANSWER Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Impulse - ANSWER the product of the force and the time during which the force acts
Weight - ANSWER The effect of gravitational field on a mass
Principle of conservation of momentum - ANSWER For a system of interacting bodies, the total
momentum remains constant provided there is no resultant force acting on the system
elastic collision - ANSWER Both momentum & kinetic energy of the system are conserved
Inelastic collision - ANSWER Only momentum is conserved, total kinetic energy is not conserved
moment - ANSWER The product of the force and the perpendicular distance of its line of action to the
pivot
the torque of a couple - ANSWER The product of one of the forces of a couple and the perpendicular
distance between the forces.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
SOLUTIONS 2024
Scalar - ANSWER a quantity that has a magnitude only
Vector - ANSWER a quantity that has both magnitude and direction
Precision - ANSWER The degree of agreement between several measurements of the same quantity and
is determined by the range of the values
Distinguish between accuracy and precision - ANSWER Accuracy is determined by the closeness of the
measurement to the true value while precision is determined by the range in values
Accuracy - ANSWER The closeness of measurement values to the true values
Systematic error - ANSWER the type of error that causes readings to deviate in one direction from the
true value
Random error - ANSWER the type of error which causes readings to scatter about the true value
distance - ANSWER Total length covered irrespective of the direction of motion
displacement - ANSWER Distance moved in a certain direction from start to end point
speed - ANSWER Distance travelled per unit time
velocity - ANSWER the rate of change of displacement
acceleration - ANSWER the rate of change of velocity
, Mass - ANSWER A property of a body that resists change in motion
Linear momentum - ANSWER the product of mass and velocity
force - ANSWER the rate of change of momentum
Newtons First Law - ANSWER A body continues in a state of rest or constant velocity unless acted upon
by a resultant force
Newtons Second Law - ANSWER The resultant force is equal to the rate of change of momentum and
acts in the direction of it.
Newtons Third Law - ANSWER Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Impulse - ANSWER the product of the force and the time during which the force acts
Weight - ANSWER The effect of gravitational field on a mass
Principle of conservation of momentum - ANSWER For a system of interacting bodies, the total
momentum remains constant provided there is no resultant force acting on the system
elastic collision - ANSWER Both momentum & kinetic energy of the system are conserved
Inelastic collision - ANSWER Only momentum is conserved, total kinetic energy is not conserved
moment - ANSWER The product of the force and the perpendicular distance of its line of action to the
pivot
the torque of a couple - ANSWER The product of one of the forces of a couple and the perpendicular
distance between the forces.
