Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054

Absolute zero (0 K): The lowest possible temperature that exists in the universe.

*Acceleration: The change in velocity with time.

Acceleration due to gravity: The rate at which all objects fall towards Earth if there were no air resistance,
approximately 10 m/s2 near Earth's surface

A.c generator: A a.c generator makes use of electromagnetic induction to convert mechanical energy into
useful electrical energy

Alternating current: An electric current that periodically reverses its direction in the circuit

*Amplitude: Maximum distance from the rest or central position, in either direction.

Angle of incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.

Angle of reflection: The angle between reflected ray and the normal.

Angle of refraction: The angle between refracted ray and the normal.

Atmospheric pressure: The pressure due to air molecules colliding with the surfaces of bodies.
At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 1 atm or 1.013 * 105 Pa

Average speed: Total distance travelled divided by total time taken.

Barometer: An instrument to measure atmospheric pressure

Boiling: A change of state from a liquid to a gas without a change in temperature. For a pure substance, it
occurs at a constant temperature called boiling point.

*Brownian motion: The constant random motion of tiny particles suspended in a fluid (i.e. smoke
particles in air or pollen grains in water).

Carbon Brush: To make good electrical contact with the external and internal circuits.

Cathode-Ray Oscilloscope: A common electronic device used to study waveforms, measure voltage
and short intervals of time

Celsius scale: A temperature scale where the lower fixed point is the ice point (0°C) and the upper fixed
point is the steam point (100°C)

*Centre of gravity (CG): The point through which its whole weight appears to act for any orientation
of the object.

Centre of mass: The point which its entire mass seems to act.

Circuit breakers: Safety devices that can switch off the electrical supply in a circuit when the current
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flowing is greater than its current rating

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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054
Compression: A region in which air particles are pushed towards each other and the air is at a pressure
higher than surrounding air pressure

Condensation: A change of state from a gas to a liquid without a change in temperature. A pure
substance condenses at a temperature equal to its boiling point.

Conduction: The transfer of thermal energy without any flow of the material medium.

Conductor: Materials that allow electrons to move freely within the material

Convection: The transfer of thermal energy by means of currents in fluids (liquids or gases).

Convection current: The movement of fluid caused by the change in density in various parts of the fluid.

Converging lens or Convex lens: Lens that is thicker in the middle than at the edges will make parallel
light rays converge to a point

Crest: Highest point of a wave

*Critical angle: The angle of incidence in the optically denser medium for which the angle of refraction
in the less dense medium is 900.

*Current: The rate of flow of charge

D.c Motor: A d.c. motor makes use of the turning effect of a current-carrying coil in a magnetic field to
convert electrical energy into mechanical energy

Density: Mass per unit volume

Discharging: A process to neutralize a charged object by removing the excess charges

Displacement: The shortest distance travelled from starting position to ending position.

Distance: The length of path travelled. It does not depend on direction.

Diverging lens or Concave lens: Lens that is thinner in the middle than at the edges will make parallel
light rays diverge

Echo: It is formed when a sound is reflected by large, hard and flat surfaces like buildings, walls and cliffs.

Electric circuit: A complete path which charges can flow from one terminal of electric source to another
terminal

Electric field: A region where an electric charge experiences an electric force

Electromagnet: Consists of a coil made from insulated copper wire wound on a core of soft magnetic
material like iron. When a current flows through the coil, the core becomes a magnet.
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Electromagnetic Wave (EM Wave): EM waves are transverse waves, consist of electric and magnetic
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waves at right angles to each other and to the direction of wave propagation.
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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054

*Electromotive Force: Work done by the source to drive a unit charge round a complete circuit

Emergent ray: Refracted ray backs to the original medium. It is parallel to the incident ray.

*Energy: The capacity to do work.

Evaporation: A process which a substance changes its state from liquid to gas without boiling.

*Faraday's law of induction: It states that the magnitude of the induced e.m.f. in a circuit is directly
proportional to the rate of change of magnetic field lines cutting it

Fixed point: The standard degree of hotness or coldness such as a melting or boiling point of a substance.

*Fleming’s Left Hand Rule: It states that the direction of force (indicated by Thumb) is perpendicular
to both the direction of magnetic field from North pole to South pole (indicated by Index Finger) and the
direction of current (indicated by Middle Finger).

*Fleming’s Right Hand Rule: It states that the direction of induced current (indicated by Middle Finger)
is perpendicular to both the direction of magnetic field from North pole to South pole (indicated by
Index Finger) and the direction of movement or motion (indicated by Thumb).

*Focal length: The distance between the optical centre C and the focus point F

Focal plane: The plane which passes through the focal point and is perpendicular to the principal axis

Focal point (for converging lens): The point where all rays parallel to the principal axis converge after
refraction by the lens.

Focal point (for diverging lens): The point where all rays parallel to the principal axis are brought to a
focus in front of the lens

Force: It is either a push or pull that one object exerts on the other object

Free fall: An object is in 'free fall' if the only force acting on it is the weight or the force due to gravity

Freezing or solidification: A change of state from a liquid to a solid without a change in temperature.
A pure substance freezes at a temperature equal to its melting point.

*Frequency: Number of complete waves produced per second

Friction: A force which always opposes the motion between two surfaces in contact

Fuse: Safety device to prevent excessive current flow and hence protect wires and electrical appliance
from overheating and damaged

Gravitational field: A region where an object experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.
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Gravitational field strength: The gravitational force acting per unit mass on an object.
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On Earth, g = 10 N/kg
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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054

Gravitational potential energy: The energy which a body possesses because of its position relative to the
ground.

Heat: the amount of thermal energy that is being transferred from a hotter to a colder object (Quantity of
hotness)

*Heat capacity: Amount of heat required to increase the temperature of the object by 1 K or 1⁰C

Heat Transfer / Thermal energy transfer: Thermal energy is transferred only when there is a difference
in the temperature and it always flows from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature.

*Ice Point: The temperature of pure melting ice at one atmospheric pressure and has a value of 0⁰C.

Incident ray (for reflection): Light ray striking the reflecting surface

Incident ray (for refraction): Light ray striking the boundary

Induction (for electrostatic): A method used to charge a conductor without any contact with the
charging body

Inertia: The reluctance of the object to change its state of rest or motion

Infrasound: Sound waves with frequencies below the lower limit of the human range of audibility
(below 20 Hz).

Input transducers: Transducers that change non-electrical energy to electrical energy

Insulators: Materials where electrons remain on the surface of it and do not move about freely within the
material

Internal energy: The sum of the kinetic energy (due to motion) and potential energy (due to
intermolecular forces) of the molecules of a body.

Kinetic energy: The energy a body possessed due to its motion

Kinetic Model of Matter: It describes that all matter being made up of tiny particles are in continuous
random motion

Latent heat: The energy absorbed or released when there is a change in state.

*Latent heat of fusion: The amount of heat needed to change the substance from solid to liquid, or vice
versa, without a change in temperature.

*Latent heat of vaporisation: The amount of heat needed to change the substance from liquid to gas,
or vice versa, without a change in temperature.

Law of electrostatic: Like charges repel, unlike charges attract

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Law of Magnetism: Like poles repel, unlike poles attract

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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054

*Laws of reflection:
First law: The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the surface all lie in the same plane.
Second law: The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. i.e i = r.

*Laws of refraction:
First Law: The incident ray, the normal and the refracted ray all lie in the same plane.
Second Law: For two particular mediums, the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of
the angle of refraction is a constant.
i.e sin i⁄sin r = constant

*Lenz's law: It states that the direction of the induced e.m.f. (and hence induced current in a closed
circuit) is always such that its magnetic effect opposes the change producing it

Light Dependent Resistor (LDR): A device that has a resistance changes with light intensity
(amount of light) shining on it.

Linear magnification: The ratio of image height to the object height

Longitudinal Waves: Waves which travel in a direction parallel to the direction of the vibration.

Loudness: Loudness is related to the amplitude of a sound wave

Luminous objects: Objects that give off light

Magnetic domain: A group of atomic magnets pointing in the same direction

Magnetic field: The region around a magnet where a magnetic material experiences a magnetic force

Magnetic induction: A process where a magnetic material becomes an induced magnet when it is
brought near to or in contact with a magnet

Magnetic Materials: Materials that can be magnetized or attracted by magnets

Magnetic shielding: It is to prevent surrounding magnetic field lines from reaching the magnetic-sensitive
equipments whose operation may be affected by the fields

Manometer: An instrument to measure the difference in the pressure of gases or liquids

Mass: The amount of substance in a body

Melting: A change of state from a solid to a liquid without a change in temperature. For a pure substance,
it occurs at a constant temperature called melting point.

*Moment: The product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action
of the force.

Motor Effect: When a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, the conductor will
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experience a force. This effect on the conductor is called the Motor Effect
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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054
Neutral equilibrium: If it stays in its new position after being displaced, it is said to be in neutral
equilibrium.

Neutral point (for charges): The electric fields from both charges cancel out each other

Neutral point (for magnets): The magnetic fields from both magnets cancel out each other

Newton’s First Law: It states that every object will continue in its state of rest or uniform motion
in a straight line unless a resultant force acts on it.
This is also known as Law of inertia.

Newton’s Second Law: It states that when a resultant force acts on an object of a constant mass, the
object will accelerate in the direction of the resultant force. The product of the mass and the acceleration
of the object gives the resultant force.

Newton’s Third Law: It states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and they
act on mutually opposite bodies.

Non-luminous objects: Objects do not give off light. A light source is required in order for us to see non-
luminous objects.

Non-Magnetic Materials: Materials that cannot be magnetized or attracted by magnets

Non-ohmic Conductors: Conductors do not obey ohm’s law

Normal (for reflection): An imaginary line perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence.

Normal (for refraction): An imaginary line perpendicular to the boundary at the point of incidence.

North Pole: The end of the magnet that points to the northern end of the Earth

*Ohm’s Law: It states that the current passing through a metallic conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across it, provided that physical conditions (like temperature) remain constant

Ohmic Conductors: Conductors that obey ohm’s law

Optical centre: The midway point between the lens’ surfaces on its principal axis. Rays passing through
the optical centre are not deviated

Optical Density: A measure of how much the speed of light is slowed down when it passes through a
medium.

*Period: Time taken for one complete oscillation

Phase: Any two points are in phase when they move in the same direction with same speed and have same
displacement from the rest or central position.

Pitch: Pitch is related to the frequency of a sound wave

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Point of incidence (for reflection): The point on the reflecting surface where the light ray strikes.
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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054

Point of incidence (for refraction): The point on the boundary where the light ray strikes.

*Potential Difference: Work done to drive a unit charge through a component or across two points

Potential divider: A simple circuit with resistors arranged in series to obtain a fraction of the main voltage
provided by a voltage supply

Potentiometer: A variable resistor that is connected at three terminals shown as points A, B, C. Contact
C is a sliding contact

*Power: The rate of work done or rate of energy conversion

*Pressure: Force acting per unit area

Principal axis: The line passing symmetrically through the optical centre of the lens

*Principle of Conservation of Energy: It states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed in any
process. It can be converted from one form to another but the total amount remains constant.

*Principle of moment: It states that when a body is in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about
a pivot is equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments about the same pivot.

Radiation: The continual emission of infra-red (IR) waves from the surface of all bodies, transmitted
without the medium.

Rarefaction: A region in which air particles are pulled from each other and the air is at a pressure lower
than surrounding air pressure

Real image: An image that can be captured on a screen

Rectification: Convert a.c to d.c

Reflected ray: Light ray reflected from the reflecting surface

Reflection of light: The change in direction of light rays that strike the boundary between different mediums.

*Refraction: The bending of light rays when it passes from one optical medium to another

*Refractive Index: The ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium.

Resistance: The ratio of the potential difference V across it to the current I passing through it.

Right hand grip rule: It is used to determine the polarity of a permanent magnet produced.
Thumb represents the North pole of a magnet;
Curling fingers represents the direction of current flow

Scalar quantities: Quantities with magnitude only, like length, mass

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*Slip Ring: To transfer the alternating induced current in the coil to the external circuit
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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054

Sound: A form of energy propagated from one point to another as a wave.

South Pole: The end of the magnet that points to the southern end of the Earth.

*Specific heat capacity: Amount of heat required to increase the temperature of 1 kg (unit mass) of the
substance by 1 K or 1⁰C

*Specific latent heat of fusion: The amount of heat needed to change 1kg of the substance from solid to
liquid, or vice versa, without a change in temperature.

*Specific latent heat of vaporisation: The amount of heat needed to change 1kg of the substance from
liquid to gas, or vice versa, without a change in temperature.

*Speed: The distance moved per unit time.

*Split Ring: To reverse the direction of the current in the coil every half a revolution (or whenever it
changes contact from one brush to another). This ensures that the coil always rotates in the same direction.

Stable equilibrium: If the object returns to its original position without toppling after being displaced
slightly, it is said to be in stable equilibrium.

*Stability: The ability of an object to return to its original position after it has been tilted slightly.

*Steam point: The temperature of steam from pure water boiling at one atmospheric pressure and has
a value of 100⁰C.

Temperature: how hot or cold an object is (degree of hotness)

Thermal Equilibrium: When two objects are at same temperature, they are in thermal equilibrium.
This means there is no net flow of thermal energy between them.

Thermistor: A device that has a resistance changes with temperature

Thermometric substances: Substances (solid, liquid or gas) that have physical properties that vary
continuously and linearly with temperature

*Total internal reflection: The complete reflection of light rays within an optically denser medium.

Transducers: Devices that transform energy from one form to another

Transformer: A device that can change a high alternating voltage to a low alternating voltage, or vice verse

*Transverse Waves: Waves which travel in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the vibration.

Trough: Lowest point of a wave

Ultrasound: Sound waves with frequencies above the upper limit of the human range of audibility
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(above 20 kHz).
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Cambridge O Level Physics Important Definitions Paper Code: 5054
Unstable equilibrium: If it continues to move away from its original position after being displaced, it
is said to be in unstable equilibrium

Vector quantities: Quantities with both magnitude and direction, like velocity, force.

*Velocity: Change in displacement per unit time

Virtual image: An image that cannot be captured on a screen

Wave: A phenomenon in which energy is transferred from one point to another without the transfer
of any material medium through vibrations

*Wavefront: An imaginary line joining all the crests or troughs in a wave

*Wavelength: Shortest distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave or any two points
that are in phase

Wave Speed: Distance travelled by a wave per unit time

Weight: The amount of gravitational force acting on a body.

It is also known as gravitational force or gravity.

*Work done: Work is done only when the object moves in the direction of force and is given as the
product of the force and the distance moved by the object in the direction of the force.

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