Physics Technical Word Lists. Read through the word list to become familiar with the meanings.

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Everett Morrison
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1 Forces Physics Technical Lists Read through the word list to become familiar with the meanings. air resistance contact force drag force newton meter friction gravity magnetism newton (N) newton meter non-contact force speed static electricity upthrust water resistance density displacement upthrust balanced forces elastic gram through air. It is a type of friction. A force that needs to touch an object before it can affect it (e.g. friction). Air resistance and water resistance are both sometimes called drag. A push or a pull. Piece of equipment containing a spring, used to measure forces. A force that tries to slow things down when two things rub against each other. The force of attraction between any two objects. The Earth is very big and so has strong gravity that pulls everything down towards it. A force that attracts objects made out of iron. The unit of force. Another name for a force meter. A force that can affect something from a distance (e.g. gravity). How fast something is moving. Often measured in metres per second (m/s). A force which attracts things with extra electrical charges on them. A force that pushes things up. through water. It is a type of friction. The amount of mass that 1cm 3 of a substance has. Measured in g/cm 3. The volume of water pushed out of the way by an object. A force that pushes thing up. When two forces are the same strength, but working in opposite directions. Any substance that will return to its original shape and size after it has been stretched or squashed. A unit for measuring mass (g). page- 1 -

2 gravity kilogram mass newton stationary unbalanced forces weight air resistance friction lubricant lubrication water resistance braking distance distance/time graph kilometres per hour (km/h) metres per second (m/s) miles per hour (mph) speed The force of attraction between any two objects. The Earth is very big and so has a large gravity pulling everything down towards it. A unit for measuring mass (kg). There are 1000 g in 1 kg. The amount of matter that something is made of. Measured in grams (g) and kilograms (kg). Your mass does not change if you go into space or to another planet. The unit of force (N). Not moving. When two forces working in opposite directions are not the same strength. The amount of force with which gravity pulls something towards the Earth. It is measured in newtons (N). through the air. It is a type of friction. A force that tries to slow things down when two things rub against each other. A substance (normally a liquid) used to reduce friction. Adding a lubricant to something. through water. It is a type of friction. The distance a car travels while the brakes are trying to stop it. A graph that shows how far and how fast something travels during a journey. Units for speed when the distance is measured in kilometres and the time is measured in hours. Units for speed when the distance is measured in metres and the time is measured in seconds. Units for speed when the distance is measured in miles and the time is measured in hours. How fast something is moving. Often measured in metres per second (m/s). stopping distance The distance a car moves while it is stopping. The stopping distance is equal to the thinking distance and the braking distance added together. thinking distance The distance a car travels while the driver is deciding to press the brake pedal. page- 2 -

3 Energy chemical energy electrical energy generate heat energy kinetic energy law of conservation of energy light energy nuclear energy sound energy uranium non-renewable energy resource alternative energy resources biomass generator geothermal hydroelectric nuclear energy radiation renewable energy resource solar cells solar panels solar The kind of energy stored in chemicals. Food, fuels and cells (batteries) all contain chemical energy. The kind of energy carried by electricity. Make electricity by turning a magnet inside coils of wire. The hotter something is, the more heat energy it has. The kind of energy in moving things. The idea that energy can never be created or destroyed, only changed from one form into another. The kind of energy given out by light bulbs, candles, etc. Energy stored inside the particles that things are made out of. The kind of energy made by anything that is making a noise. A fuel used in nuclear stations. Any energy resource that will run out and we cannot renew our supplies of it (e.g. oil). Another name for renewable energy resources. Any fuel that comes from plants, animals, or their wastes (e.g. wood, methane from rotting plants, etc.). Large coil of wire with a magnet inside. When the magnet is turned, electricity is produced in the coil of wire. Making electricity using heat from hot rocks underground. Making electricity by letting falling water (usually from a reservoir) turn turbines and generators. Energy stored inside the particles that things are made out of. Dangerous particles and energy given off by uranium and other radioactive materials. An energy resource that will never run out (e.g. solar ). Flat plates that convert light energy into electrical energy. Flat plates that use the Sun's energy to heat water. Making electricity by using light or heat energy from the Sun. page- 3 -

4 turbine uranium wind turbine joule (J) kilojoule (kj) convection current geothermal hydroelectric nuclear tidal The machine in a station that is pushed round by water or steam and turns the generator. A fuel used in nuclear stations. A kind of windmill that generates electricity using energy from the wind. The unit for measuring energy. There are 1000 joules in 1 kilojoule. A flow of liquid or gas caused by part of it being heated or cooled more than the rest. Making electricity using heat from hot rocks underground. Making electricity by letting falling water (usually from a reservoir) turn turbines and generators. Making electricity by using the nuclear energy stored inside uranium. Making electricity using the moving (kinetic) energy from the tides. Electricity ammeter amp (A) cell circuit component conductor electric current insulator mains (electricity) pack switch voltage atom Measures how much electricity is flowing around a circuit. The unit for current. A source of electricity with a low energy. Cells push electrons round a circuit. A complete loop that electricity flows around. Something in a circuit, like a bulb, switch or motor. A material that lets electricity flow through it. The flow of electricity around a circuit. A material that does not let electricity flow through it. Alternating current at 230 V provided to houses, shops etc. A source of electricity with a low energy (low voltage). Turns electricity on or off, by closing or opening a gap in a circuit. A way of saying how much energy is transferred by electricity. The smallest part of an element. page- 4 -

5 electric current electrical energy electron filament model resistance The flow of electrons around a circuit. The kind of energy carried by electricity. Tiny particle that flows around a circuit. Thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when electricity is flowing through it. A scientific way of thinking about how things happen. A way of saying how difficult it is for electricity to flow through something. resistor A component that makes it difficult for electricity to flow resistors are used to control the size of the current in a circuit. variable resistor voltage component parallel circuit series circuit cable grip earth wire filament fuse live wire A resistor that can be adjusted to change the amount of resistance it has. A way of saying how much energy is transferred by electricity. Something in a circuit, like a bulb, switch or motor. A circuit with two or more wires running next to each other. A circuit where there is only one loop of wire. Part of a plug that holds the cable, and stops the wires being pulled out of the pins. The green and yellow wire in a cable or plug. Thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when electricity is flowing through it. A piece of wire that melts if too much electricity flows through it. The brown wire in a cable or plug. page- 5 -

In science, energy is the ability to do work. Work is done when a force causes an

What is energy? In science, energy is the ability to do work. Work is done when a force causes an object to move in the direction of the force. Energy is expressed in units of joules (J). A joule is calculated