Physic words

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  • Created by: elena9078
  • Created on: 09-06-17 21:31
ABS
Braking system known as advance braking system, which helps to control of a skidding car
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Acceleration
A measurement of how quickly the speed of a moving object changes (when speed is in m/s the acceleration is in m/s^2
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Air Bags
Cushions which inflate with gas to protect people in a vehicle accident
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Air resistance
The force exerted by air to any object passing through it
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Alpha particles
Radioactive particles which are helium nuclei - helium atoms without the electrons (they have a positive charge)
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Alternating current or voltage
An electric current that is not a one-way flow
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Amplitude
The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a wave from its rest position
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Analogue Signal
A signal that shows a complete range of frequencies; sound is analogue
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Asteroid
Composed of rock or metallic material orbiting the Sun in a region between Mars and Jupiter
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Atmosphere
Mixture of gases above the lithosphere, mainly nitrogen and oxygen
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Atom
The basic 'building block' of an element which cannot be chemically broken down
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Attract
Move towards, for example, unlike charges attract
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Average speed
Total distance travelled divided by the total time taken for a journey
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Background Radiation
Ionising radiation from space and rocks, especially granite, that is around us all the time but is at a very low level
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Battery
Two or more electrical cells joined together
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Beta particles
Particles given off by some radioactive materials (they have a negative charge)
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Big Bang
The event believed by many scientists that started the universe
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Biofuels
Fuels made from plants - these can be burned in power stations
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Black Hole
A region of space from which nothing, not even light, can escape
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Boron control rods
Rods that are raised or lowered in a nuclear reactor to control the rate of fission
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Braking distance
Distance travelled while a car is braking
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Centripetal Force
Force acting on a body, travelling in a circle, which acts towards the centre of the circle and keeps the body moving in a circle
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CFC's
Gases which used to be used in refrigerators and which harm the ozone layer
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Chain reaction
A reaction where the products cause the reaction to go further or faster, e.g; in nuclear fission
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Circuit breakers
Resettable breakers
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Cold fusion
Attempts to produce fusion at normal room temperature that have been validated since other scientists could not reproduce the results
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Comets
Lumps of rock and ice found in space - some orbit the Sun
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Computer modelling
Using a computer to 'model' situations to see how they are likely to work out if you do different things
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Core
The centre part of the planet, made of iron
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Cosmic rays
Radiation from space that contributes to background radiation
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Count rate
Average number of nuclei that decay every second
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Critical Angle
Angle at which a light ray incident on the inner surface of a transparent glass block just escapes from the glass
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Crumple zones
Areas of a car that absorb the energy of a crash to protect the centre part of the vehicle
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Crust
Surface layer of the Earth made of tectonic plates
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Current
Flow of electrons in an electric circuit
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Curved line
Line of changing gradient
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Deceleration
A measurement of how quickly the speed of a moving object decreases
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Defibrillator
Machine which gives the heart an electric shock to start it beating regularly
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Deforestation
Removal of large areas of trees
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Diffraction
A change in directions and intensities of a group of waves after passing by an obstacle or through an opening whose size is approximately the same as the wavelength of the waves
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Digital signal
A signal that has only two values - on and off
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Distance time graph
A plot of the distance moved against the time taken for a journey
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Drag
Energy losses caused by the continual pushing of an object against the air or a liquid
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Dynamo
A device that converts energy in movement into energy in electricity
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Earth Wire
The third wire in a mains cable which connects the case of an appliance to the ground so that the case cannot become charged and cause electric shock
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Earthed (electrically)
Connected to the ground (at 0V)
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Echoes
Reflection of sound (or ultrasound)
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Electromagnet
A magnet which is magnetic only when a current is switched on
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Electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic waves ordered according to wavelength and frequency - ranging from radio waves to gamma rays
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Elliptical orbit
A path that follows an ellipse - which looks a bit like a flattered circle
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Endoscope
Device using optical fibres which allows doctors to look inside the human body
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Escape Lane
Rough - surfaced uphill path adjacent to a steep downhill road enabling vehicles with braking problems to stop safely
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Exhaust Gases
Gases discharged into the atmosphere as a result of combustion of fuels
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Explosion
A very fast reaction making large volumes of gas
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Filtration
The process of filtering river or ground water to purify it for drinking water
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Fission
Splitting apart, especially of large radioactive nuclei such as uranium
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Force
A push or pull which is able to change the velocity or shape of a body
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Fossil fuels
Fuels such as coal, oil and gas
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Free - fall
A body falling through the atmosphere without an open parachute
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Frequency
The number of waves passed a set point per second
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Friction
Energy losses caused by two or more objects rubbing against each other
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Fuel composition
The distance travelled by a given amount of fuel, e.g; in km/ 100 litres
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Fuel rods
Rods of enriched uranium produced to provide fuel for nuclear power stations
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Fuses
A special component in a electric circuit containing a thin wire which is designed to melt if too much current flows through it, breaking the circuit
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Fusion
The joining together of small nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, at very high temperatures with the release of energy
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Fusion bombs
Hydrogen bombs or H- bombs based on fusion reactions
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Gamma Rays
Ionising electromagnetic waves that are radioactive and dangerous to human health - but useful in killing cancer cells
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Generator
Device that converts rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy
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Gradient
Rate of change of two quantities on a graph; change in y / change in x
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Granite
An igneous rock containing low levels of uranium
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Graphite
A type of carbon used as a moderator in a nuclear power station
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Gravitational field strength
The force of attraction between two masses
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Gravitational potential energy
The energy a body has because of its position in a gravitational field, e.g; an object
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Gravity
An attractive force between objects (dependent on their mass)
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Hertz
Units for measuring wave frequency
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Infrared waves
Non - ionising waves that produce heat - used in toasters and electric fires
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Instantaneous speed
The speed of a moving object at one particular moment
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Interference
Waves interfere with each other when two waves of different frequencies occupy the same space; interference occurs in light and sound and can produce changes in intensity of the waves
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Interpolation
Making and estimate within the range of results
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Ionosphere
A region of the Earth's atmosphere where ionisation caused by incoming solar radiation affects the transmission of radio waves; it extends from 70 kilometres (43 miles) to 400 kilometres (250 miles) above the surface
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Joule
Unit of work done and energy
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Kilowatt
1000 watts
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Kilowatt - hour
Unit of electrical energy equal to 3600000J
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Kinetic energy
The energy that moving objects have
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Laser
A special kind of light beam that can carry a lot of energy and can be focused very accurately; lasers are often used to judge the speed of moving objects or the distance to them
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Latent heat
The energy needed to change the state of a substance
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Light Emitting Diode (LED)
A very small light in electric circuits that uses very little energy
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Light year
A unit of distance equal to the distance light travels through space in one year
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Linear
A line of constant gradient of a graph
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Lithosphere
The cold rigid outer part of the earth which includes the crust and the upper part of the mantle
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Live wire
Carries a high voltage into and around the house
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Longitudinal (wave)
Wave in which the vibrations are in the same direction as the direction in which the wave travels
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Magma
Molten rock found below the Earth's surface
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Mantle
Semi - liquid layer of the earth beneath the crust
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Meteors
Bight flashes in the sky caused by rocks burning in Earth's atmosphere
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Microwaves
Non - ionising waves used in satellite and mobile phone networks - also in microwave ovens
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Moderator
Material used to slow down neutrons in a nuclear power station
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Momentum
The product of mass and velocity
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Morse code
A code consisting of dots and dashes that code for each letter of the alphabet
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Multiplexing
Combination of multiple signals into one signal transmitted over a shared medium
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Nanometre
Units used to measure very small things (one billionth of a metre)
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National Grid
Network that carries electricity from power stations across the country - cables, transformers and pylons
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Near earth object
Asteroid, comet or large meteoroid whose orbit crosses the earth's orbit
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Neutral wire
Provides a return path for the current in a mains supply to a local electricity substation
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Newtons
Unit of force
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Non renewable energy
Energy which is used up at a faster rate than it can be replaced eg; fossil fuels
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Nuclear equation
Equation showing changes to the nuclei in a nuclear reaction
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Nuclear power stations
Power stations using the energy produced by nuclear fission to generate heat
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Ohms
Units used to measure resistance to the flow of electricity
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Optical fibre
A flexible optically transparent fibre, usually made of glass or plastic, through which light passes by successive internal reflections
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Oscilloscope
A device that displays a line on a screen showing regular changes in something, an oscilloscope is often used to look at sound waves collected by a microphone
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Ozone layer
Of the earths atmosphere that protects us from ultraviolet rays
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Paddle shift controls
Controls attached to the steering wheel of a car so that the driver can use them without taking their eyes off the road
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Paddles
Charged plates in a defibrillator that are placed on the patients chest
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Payback time
The time it takes for the original cost outlay to be recovered in savings
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Phase
Fraction of complete wave that one wave disturbance is different to another
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Photocell
A device which converts light into electricity
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Photon
A photon is a unit or particle of electromagnetic energy, photons travel at the speed of light but have no mass
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Pitch
Whether a sound is high or low on a musical scale
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Plutonium
A radioactive metal often formed as a bi-product from a nuclear power station - sometimes used as a nuclear fuel
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P-n junction
The boundary between two special types of silicon in a photocell and other electronic components
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Potential difference
Another word for voltage (a measure of the energy carried by the electric current)
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Power
The rate that a system transfers energy, power is usually measured in watts - electric power = voltage x current
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Power station
Facility that generates electricity on a large scale
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Power transmission
Transmission of electricity
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Pressure wave
Vibrating particles in a longitudinal waves creating pressure vibrations
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Primary safety features
Help to prevent a crash, e.g; ABS brakes, traction control
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Probe
Unmanned space vehicle designed to travel beyond Earths orbit
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P Wave
Longitudinal seismic waves capable of travelling through solid and liquid parts of the earth
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Radiation
Thermal energy transfer which occurs when something hotter than its surroundings radiates heat from its surface
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Radio waves
Non - ionising waves used to broadcast radio and TV programmes
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Radioactive
Material which gives out radiation
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Radioactive waste
Waste produced by radioactive materials used at nuclear power stations, research centres and some hospitals
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Radiotherapy
Using ionising particles to kill cancer cells in the body
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Random
Having no regular patterns
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Rarefractions
Particles further apart than usual, decreasing pressure
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Receiver
Device which receives waves, e.g; a mobile phone
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Recharging
Battery being charged with a flow of electric current
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Red shift
When lines in a spectrum are redder than expected - if an object has a red shift it is moving away from us
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Reflected
Radiation rebounding off a surface
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Refraction
When a light ray travelling through air enters a glass block and changes direction
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Relative velocity
Vector difference between the velocities of two objects
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Renewable Energy
Energy that can be replenished at the same rate that it's used up e.g; biofuels
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Repel
Move away; for example, like charges repel
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Reservoir
A water resource where large volumes of water are held
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Resistance
Measurement of how hard it is for an electric current to flow through a material
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Resultant force
The combined effect of forces acting on an object
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Rheosat
A variable resistor
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Satellite
A body orbiting around a larger body; communication satellites orbit the earth to relay television and telephone signals
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Seat belts
Harness worn by occupants of motor vehicles to prevent them from being thrown about in a collision
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Seismic waves
Vibration transmitted through the earth
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Shock
Occurs when a person comes into contact with an electrical energy source so that electrical energy flows though a portion of the body
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Smoke detector
Device to detect smoke, some forms of which contain a source of alpha radiation
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Solar system
The collection of planets and other objects orbiting around the sun
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Solar power
Energy provided by the sun
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Sparks
Type of electrostatic discharge briefly producing light and sound
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Specific latent heat
The amount of energy needed to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature; for example the energy needed to change ice at 0c to water at the same temperature
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Specific heat capacity
The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree Celcuis
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Speed
How fast an object travels; speed = distance / time
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Speed time graph
A plot of how the speed of an object varies with time
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Star
Bright object in the sky which is lit by energy from nuclear reactions
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Stopping distance
Sum of the thinking and braking distances
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Straight line
Line of constant gradient
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Stratosphere
A layer in the atmosphere starting at 15km above sea level and extending to 50km above sea level; the ozone layer is found in the stratosphere
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Subsidence
Settling of the ground caused, for example, by mining
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Substrate
The substance upon which an enzyme acts
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S Wave
Transverse seismic waves capable of travelling through solid but not liquid part of earth
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Tectonic plate
A large section of the lithosphere which can move across the surface of the earth
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Temperature
A measure of the degree of hotness of a body on an arbitrary scale
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Terminal speed or velocity
The top speed reached when drag matches the driving force
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Thermogram
A picture showing differences in surface temperatures of the body
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Thinking distance
Distance travelled while the drive reacts before braking
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Thyroid gland
Gland at the base of the neck which makes the hormone insulin
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Total internal reflection
The reflection of light inside an optically denser material at its boundary with an optically less dense material (usually air)
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Tracer
A radioactive, or radiation - emitting, substance used in a nuclear medicine scan or other research where movement of particular chemical is to be followed
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Transformer
Device by which alternating current of one voltage is changed to another voltage
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Transmitter
A device which gives out some form of energy or signal, usually used to mean a radio transmitter which broadcasts radio signals
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Transverse wave
Wave in which the vibrations are at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels
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Tread
Pattern on part of tyre that comes in contact with road surface to provide traction
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Tsunami
Huge waves caused by earthquakes- can be very destructive
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Tumour
Abnormal mass of tissue that is often cancerous
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Turbine
Device for generating electricity - the turbine moves through a magnetic field and electricity is generated
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Ultrasound
High pitched sounds which are too high for detection by human ears
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Ultraviolet radiation
Electromagnetic waves given out by the Sun which damage human skin
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Unbalanced (forces)
Forces acting in opposite directions that are unequal in size
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Universe
The whole of space
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Unstable nucleus
Liable to decay
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Uranium
Radioactive element element with a very long half - life used in nuclear power stations
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Vacuum
Space containing hardly any particles
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Variable resistor
A resistor whose resistance can change
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Velocity
How fast an object is travelling in a certain direction, velocity = displacement/ time
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Voltage
A measure of the energy carried by an electric current (also called the potential difference)
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Voltmeter
Instrument used to measure voltage or difference
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Volts
Unit used to measure voltage
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Watt
A unit of power, 1 watt equals 1 joule of energy being transferred per second
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Wave
Oscillatory motion
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Wavelength
Distance between two wave peaks
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Weight
The force of gravity acting on a body
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Work done
The product of the force and distance moved in the direction of the force
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Xray
Ionising electromagnetic waves used in x ray photography (where x-rays are used to generate pictures of bones)
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A measurement of how quickly the speed of a moving object changes (when speed is in m/s the acceleration is in m/s^2

Back

Acceleration

Card 3

Front

Cushions which inflate with gas to protect people in a vehicle accident

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

The force exerted by air to any object passing through it

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Radioactive particles which are helium nuclei - helium atoms without the electrons (they have a positive charge)

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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