SPM PHYSICS

LIST OF DEFINITION
Chapter 1 MEANING/DEFINITION
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS
Physical quantities A quantity that can be measured.

Base quantities Physical quantities that cannot be defined in term of other physical quantities.

Derived quantities Physical quantities derived by combining base quantities. This can be done by multiplication or
division or both.

Precision /Consistency The ability to measured values remain constant throughout.

Accuracy The ability of an apparatus to give readings nearest to the actual value.

Sensitivity Ability to detect small changes in measuring physical quantities.

Errors Incorrectly reading and measuring..

Systematic errors Cumulative errors that can be corrected, if errors are known like incorrect position of the zero point
and incorrect calibration of the measuring instrument.

Random errors Arise from unknown and unpredictable variations in condition, and will produce a different error
every time you repeat the experiment. They may vary from observation to observation.

Parallax error Is an error in reading an instrument because the observers eye and the pointer are not in a line
perpendicular to the plane of the scale.

Zero error The measuring instrument does not start from exactly zero.
 CHAPTER 2
FORCE AND
DEFINITION UNIT
MOTION
Linear motion Motion in a straight line.

Scalar quantity A quantity which has only magnitude.

Vector quantity A quantity which has both magnitude and direction.

v/ Velocity The rate of change of displacement. ms-1

u s
v=
t
Speed The rate of change of distance.

a Acceleration The rate of change of velocity. ms-2

vu
a=
t
Distance The total length of the path travelled.

s Displacement The distance travelled in a specific direction. m

Inertia The tendency of an object to resist change to its state of motion.

First Newtons Law An object at rest tends to stay at rest and a moving object tends to continue its uniform motion with the
same speed and in the same direction unless being acted upon by an external force.
(Inertia)

Second Newton s The net force on an object is proportional to the rate of change in momentum.
law F=ma

Third Newtons To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
law

P Momentum The product of its mass and velocity Kg ms-1

P=mv Ns-1
The principle of The total momentum of a system is constant, if no external force acts on the system.
 conservation of
momentum
F Force The resistant of change to its state of motion or moves in the object. N
Impulse Change in momentum. kg ms-1
mvmu/ Ft Ns-1
impulsive force The rate of change of momentum. N
mvmu
F=
t

W Weight The force of gravity which is exerted on it by earth. N

W=mg
m Mass The amount of matter in the object. kg

Free fall An object falling under the force of gravity only without any external forces.
W Work The product of force and the displacement. J
W =Fs

Energy The capacity to do work. J

g Gravitational field The region in which an object experiences a force due to gravitational attraction. ms-1

Ep Potential energy The energy stored in the object because of its position or its state. J
E p=mgh

Ep Elastic potential The energy possessed by an object due to its compressed or rarefaction. J
energy 1
E p= Fx
2

Ek Kinetic energy The energy possessed by an object due to its motion J

1 2
Ek = mv
2
The principle of State that the energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can be transformed from one form to another, but the
conservation of total energy in a system is constant.
energy
P Power The rate at which work is done or energy is transformed. W
W
P=
t
 Chapter 3
FORCE AND DEFINITION UNIT
PRESSURE
Elasticity The property of an object that enables it to return to its original shape and dimensions ( sizes ) after an applied external force
is removed.
Hookes law State that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the stretching force acting on it provided the elastic limit of the Nm-1
spring is not exceeded.
F=kx
p Pressure The force acting perpendicularly on unit area of a surface. Nm-1
p=F / A Pa
Archimedes State that an object, whether completely or partially immersed in a fluid is acted on by a buoyant force which is equal to the Nm-1
principle weight of the displaced fluid. Pa
p=mg

*m=mass of liquid displaced

Bernoullis State that the in a steady flow of a fluid the pressure of the fluid decreases when the velocity of the fluid increases.
principle A 1 v 1= A2 v 2

Pascal principle State that in an enclosed fluid an externally applied pressure is transmitted uniformly in all directions.
F1 A1
=
F2 A2
 Chapter 4
DEFINITION UNIT
HEAT
Temperature The hotter measured on the object. C

Heat The one form energy was transfer by hot object to cold object. J

Thermal Produce when the net rate of heat transfer is zero.

equilibrium

Q Specific heat The quantity of heat energy required to increase the temperatureof 1 kg of the substance by 1C or 1 K. J kg-1 C-
1
capacity
Q=mc

Specific latent The heat required for an object to change phase without a change in temperature.
heat

Specific latent The quantity of heat energy required to change 1kg of the substance from a solid to a liquid without a J kg-1
heat of fusion change in temperature.

Q=mL

Specific latent The quantity of heat energy required to change 1kg of the substance from a liquid to a gaseous without a J kg-1
heat of change in temperature.
vaporisation
Q=mL

Condensation A process matter changes from liquid to gaseous at random temperature lowest from that the boiling
point.

Boiling A process the liquid become vapour into bubble form gaseous to all boiling point of liquid.

Boyles law States that the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume provided the
temperature of the gas is kept constant.

p1 V 1 = p 2 V 2
Charles Law States that the volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature provided
the pressure of the gas is kept constant.

V1 T1
=
V2 T2

Pressure law States that the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature ( in
kelvin ) provided the volume of the gas is kept constant.

P 1 P2
=
T1 T 2
LIGHT
Reflected of light Occur when a light wave propagates into the plane reflector and it is reflection.
waves

Reflected of light It can be seen that : Angle of incident = angle of reflection

waves law i=r

The normal line, incident ray, reflection ray on the same plane.

Refraction of light Is phenomenon where the direction of light is changed when it crosses the boundary between two
waves materials of different optical densities.

Refraction of light The incident ray and the refracted ray are on the opposite sides of thenormal at the point of incidence, all
waves law three lie in the same plane

Sin i /sin r (Snells law)

Total internal Total reflection of a beam of light at the boundary of two mediums, when the angle of incidence in the
reflection optically denser medium exceeds a specific critical angle.

1
n=
sin c

Critical angle Greatest angle of incidence in the optically denser medium for which theangle of refraction, r = 90

Power of lens Measure of its ability to converge or diverge an incident beam of light D

1
P=
f

IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS

Virtual-an image which cannot be projected (focused) onto a screen

Real -an image which can be projected (focused) onto a screen

Inverted-an image which left and right are interchanged

Upright-an image which in vertical position

Diminished-image formed is smaller than the object

Magnified-image formed is larger than the object

WAVES
Waves A type of disturbance produced by an oscillating or vibrating motion in which apoint or body moves back
and forth along a line about a fixed central point produceswaves.
Wavefront Line or plane on which the vibrations of every point are in phase and are at thesame distance from the
source of the wave.
Transverse Wave Wave in which the vibration of particles in the medium isperpendicular to thedirection of propagation of
the wave.
Longitudinal Wave Wave in which the vibration of particles in the medium is parallel to the direction of propagation of the
wave.
a Amplitude Maximum displacement forms its equilibrium positionmeasure of height of the wave crest or depth of the m
wave trough.
T Period Time taken to complete an oscillation, from one extreme point to the other and backto the same position. s

f Frequency Number of complete oscillations made by a vibrating system inone second. Hz

1
f=
T
Wavelength Distance between successive points of the same phase in a wave. m
v Wave speed Distance travelled by a wave in one second in direction of propagation. ms-1
v =f
Damping Decrease in the amplitude of an oscillating system is called damping.
Resonance Resonance occurs when a system is made to oscillate at a frequency equivalent to its natural frequency
by an external force. The resonating system oscillates at itsmaximum amplitude.
Natural frequency Fundamental frequency of which an object vibrates. It is the frequency of a systemwhich oscillates freely
without external force.
Interference ofwaves Superposition of two waves originating from two coherent.
Constructiveinterfere Constructive interference occurs when the both crests or both troughs of both wavescoincide to produce a
nce wave with crests and troughs of maximum amplitude
Destructiveinterfere Destructive interference occurs when the crest of one wave coincides with the troughof the other wave,
nce thus cancelling each other with the result that the resultantamplitude is zero.
Antinode Point where constructive interference occurs.
Node Point where destructive interference occurs.
Electromagnetic Propagating waves in space withelectricandmagneticcomponents. Thesecomponents oscillate at right
Waves angles to each other and to the direction of propagationof wave.
Monochromaticlight Light with only one wavelength and colour.
Principle Principle of superposition states that at any instant, the wave displacement of thecombined motion of any
ofsuperposition number of interacting waves at a point is the sum of the displacements of all the components waves at
that point.
ELECTRICITY
Q Charge Work done to move a unit of voltage in a circuit.
I Current Rate of flow of charge. A
I =Q/t
V Potential Work done in moving one coulomb of charge from one point to another in an electric field. V
difference V =W /Q
Electric field A field in which electric force acts in a particle with electric charge.
Circuit Closed loop through which charge can continuously flow.
R Resistance Measure of the ability of the conductor to resist the flow of an electric current through it.
R=V /I
Superconductor Conductor in which its resistance will suddenly become zero when it is cooled below a certain temperature
called the critical temperature
E Electromotive Total energy supplied by a cell to move a unit of electrical charge from one terminal to the other through V
force the cell and the external circuit.
W
E=
Q
Power rating Rate at which it consumes electrical energy.
Ohms law Ohms law states that the electric current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across the ends of conductor, if temperature and other physical conditions remain
constant.
VI

ELECTROMAGNETISM
Electromagnet Device in which magnetism is produced by an electric currenttemporary magnet which acts as a
magnet when the current is switched on and ceases to be a magnet when the current is switched off.
Magnetic field Region in which a magnetic material experiences a force as the result of a magnet or a current-carrying
conductor.
Radial field Magnetic field with the field lines pointing towards or away from the centre of a circle.
Electromagneticinduc Production of an electric current by a changing magnetic field.
tion
Transformer Equipment to raise or lower the potential difference of an alternating current supply.
V s Ns
=
V p Np
 Faradays law The magnitude of the induced electromotive force (e.m.f.) is directly proportional to therate of change
of magnetic flux linkage with the solenoid or the rate at which a conductorcuts through the magnetic
flux
Lenzs law Lenzs law states that an induced electric current always flows in such a direction so as tooppose the
change (or motion) producing it.
Energy loss Energy loss in electricity transmission cables due to the heat generated in the cable.
E=I 2 Rt