Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) Gr 12 3 FS / January 2021

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

MECHANICS: NEWTON’S LAWS

Acceleration The rate of change of velocity.
Free-body diagrams This is a diagram that shows the relative magnitudes and directions of forces acting
on a body/particle that has been isolated from its surroundings.
Kinetic frictional force The force acting parallel to a surface and opposes the motion of a MOVING object
(fk) relative to the surface.
Mass The amount of matter in a body measured in kilogram (kg).
Maximum static The static frictional force is a maximum (f max ) just before the object starts to move
s
frictional force (f max
s ) across the surface.
Newton's first law of A body will remain in its state of rest or motion at constant velocity unless a non-zero
motion resultant/net force acts on it.
Inertia The resistance of a body to a change in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight
line.
Mass is a measure of an object’s inertia.
Newton's second law When a resultant/net force acts on an object, the object will accelerate in the direction
of motion of the force at an acceleration directly proportional to the force and inversely
proportional to the mass of the object.
In symbols: Fnet = ma
Newton’s third law of When object A exerts a force on object B, object B SIMULTANEOUSLY exerts a
motion force equal in magnitude but opposite in direction on object A.
Newton's law of Each body in the universe attracts every other body with a force that is directly
universal gravitation proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between their centres.
Gm1m 2
In symbols: F =
r2
Normal force The force or the component of a force which a surface exerts on an object with which
it is in contact, and which is perpendicular to the surface.
Static frictional force The force acting parallel to a surface and opposes the tendency of motion of a
(fs) STATIONARY object relative to the surface.
Weight The gravitational force, in newton (N), exerted on an object.
Weightlessness The sensation experienced when all contact forces are removed i.e. no external
objects touch one's body.

MECHANICS: MOMENTUM AND IMPULSE

Contact forces Contact forces arise from the physical contact between two objects (e.g. a soccer
player kicking a ball.)
Non-contact forces Non-contact forces arise even if two objects do not touch each other (e.g. the force of
attraction of the earth on a parachutist even when the earth is not in direct contact
with the parachutist.)
Momentum Linear momentum is the product of an object’s mass and its velocity.
In symbols: p = mv Unit: N∙s or kg∙m∙s-1
Newton’s Second Law The net (or resultant) force acting on an object is equal to the rate of change of
of motion in terms of momentum of the object in the direction of the net force.
momentum Δp
In symbols: Fnet =
Δt
Principle of The total linear momentum in an isolated system remains constant (is conserved).
conservation of linear In symbols: p before = p after
momentum
Closed system A system in which the net external force acting on the system is zero.
Impulse The product of the resultant/net force acting on an object and the time the
resultant/net force acts on the object.
In symbols: Impulse = FnetΔt Unit: N∙s or kg∙m∙s-1
Impulse-momentum In symbols: FnetΔt = mΔv = m(vf – vi) Unit: N∙s or kg∙m∙s-1
theorem
Elastic collision A collision in which both total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved.
Inelastic collision A collision during which kinetic energy is not conserved.

Terms, definitions, questions & answers © Free State Department of Education

Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) Gr 12 4 FS / January 2021

MECHANICS: VERTICAL PROJECTILE MOTION

1-D motion One-dimensional motion./Linear motion./Motion in one line.
Acceleration The rate of change of velocity.
Symbol: a
Unit: meters per second squared (m∙s-2)
Gravitational The acceleration of a body due to the force of attraction of the earth.
acceleration (g)
Displacement Change in position.
Symbol: ∆x (horizontal displacement) or ∆y (vertical displacement)
Unit: meters (m)
Free fall Motion of an objects under the influence of the gravitational force only.
Gravitational force A force of attraction of one body on another due to their masses.
Position Where an object is relative to a reference point.
Symbol: x (horizontal position) or y (vertical position)
Unit: meters (m)
Projectile An object which has been given an intial velocity and on which the only force acting is
the gravitational force/weight.
Velocity The rate of change of position.
Symbol: v Unit: meters per second (m∙s-1)
MECHANICS: WORK, ENERGY AND POWER
Work Work done on an object by a constant force is the product of the magnitude of the
force, the magnitude of the displacement and the angle between the force and the
displacement.
In symbols: W = F x cos 
Positive work The kinetic energy of the object increases.
Negative work The kinetic energy of the object decreases.
Work-energy theorem The net/total work done on an object is equal to the change in the object's kinetic
energy OR the work done on an object by a resultant/net force is equal to the change
in the object's kinetic energy.
In symbols: Wnet = Δ K = Kf - Ki.
Principle of The total mechanical energy (sum of gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy)
conservation of in an isolated system remains constant. (A system is isolated when the resultant/net
mechanical energy external force acting on the system is zero.)
In symbols: EM(intial) = EM(final) OR (Ep + Ek)initial = (Ep + Ek)final
Conservative force A force for which the work done (in moving an object between two points) is
independent of the path taken.
Examples are gravitational force, the elastic force in a spring and electrostatic forces
(coulomb forces).
Non-conservative force A force for which the work done (in moving an object between two points) depends on
the path taken.
Examples are frictional force, air resistance, tension in a chord, etc.
Power The rate at which work is done or energy is expended.
W
In symbols: P =
t
Unit: watt (W)
WAVES, SOUND AND LIGHT: DOPPLER EFFECT
Doppler Effect The apparent change in frequency/pitch of the sound detected by a listener because
the sound source and the listener have different velocities relative to the medium of
sound propagation.
OR: The change in frequency/pitch of the sound detected by a listener due to relative
motion between the sound source and the listener.
Red shift Observed when light from an object increased in wavelength (decrease in frequency).
A red shift occurs when a light source moves away from an observer.
Blue shift Observed when light from an object decreased in wavelength (increase in frequency).
A blue shift occurs when a light source moves towards an observer.
Frequency The number of vibrations per second.
Symbol: f Unit: hertz (Hz) or per second (s-1)
Wavelength The distance between two successive points in phase.
Symbol: λ Unit: meter (m)
Wave equation Speed = frequency x wavelength

Terms, definitions, questions & answers © Free State Department of Education

Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) Gr 12 5 FS / January 2021

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM: ELECTROSTATICS

Coulomb's law The magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by one point charge on another point
charge is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
In symbols: F = kQ1Q2
r2
Electric field A region of space in which an electric charge experiences a force.
Electric field at a point The electric field at a point is the electrostatic force experienced per unit positive
charge placed at that point.
In symbols: E = F Unit: N∙C-1
q
Direction of electric The direction of the electric field at a point is the direction that a positive test charge
field would move if placed at that point.
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM: ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
Ohm's law The potential difference across a conductor is directly proportional to the current in the
conductor at constant temperature.
In symbols: R = V
I
Ohmic conductors A conductor that obeys Ohm’s law i.e the ratio of potential difference to current remains
constant. (Resistance of the conducter remains constant.)
Non-ohmic conductors A conductor that does not obey Ohm’s law i.e the ratio of potential difference to current
does NOT remain constant. (Resistance of the conductor increases as the current
increases e.g. a bulb.)
Power Rate at which work is done.
W
In symbols: P = Unit: watt (W)
t
2
Other formulae: P = VI; P = I2R; P= V
R
kilowatt hour (kWh) The use of 1 kilowatt of electricity for 1 hour.
Internal resistance The resistance within a battery that causes a drop in the potential difference of the
battery when there is a current in the circuit.
emf Maximum energy provided/work done by a battery per coulomb/unit charge passing
through it.
(It is the potential difference across the ends of a battery when there is NO current in
the circuit.)

Terminal potential The energy transferred to or the work done per coulomb of charge passing through
difference the battery when the battery delivers a current.
(It is the potential difference across the ends of a battery when there is a current in
the circuit.)
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM: ELECTRICAL MACHINES
Generator A device that transfers mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Faraday’s law of The magnitude of the induced emf across the ends of a conductor is directly
electromagnetic proportional to the rate of change in the magnetic flux linkage with the conductor.
induction (When a conductor is moved in magnetic field, a potential difference is induced across
the conductor.)

Fleming’s Right Hand Hold the thumb, forefinger and second finger of the RIGHT hand at right angles to each
Rule for generators other. If the forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic field (N to S) and the thumb
points in the direction of the force (movement), then the second finger points in the
direction of the induced current.

Electric motor A device that transfers electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Fleming’s Left Hand Hold the thumb, forefinger and second finger of the LEFT hand at right angles to each
Rule for electric motors other. If the forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic field (N to S) and the
second finger points in the direction of the conventional current, then the thumb will
point in the direction of the force (movement).
Coventional current Flow of electric charge from positive to negative.
AC Alternating current
The direction of the current changes each half cycle.
Terms, definitions, questions & answers © Free State Department of Education
Physical Sciences P1 (Physics) Gr 12 6 FS / January 2021

DC Direct current
The direction of the current remains constant. (The direction of conventional current is
from the positive to the negative pole of a battery. The direction of electron current is
from the negative to the positive pole of the battery.)
Root-mean-square The root-mean-square potential difference is the AC potential difference that
potential difference produces the same amount of electrical energy (power) as an equivalent DC potential
(Vrms) difference.
Peak potential The maximum potential difference value reached by the alternating current as it
difference (Vmax) fluctuates i.e. the peak of the sine wave representing an AC potential difference.
Root-mean-square Root-mean-square current is the alternating current that produces the same amount
current (Irms) of energy (power) as and equivalent DC current.
Peak current (Imax) The maximum current value reached by the alternating current as it fluctuates i.e. the
peak of the sine wave representing an AC current.
MATTER AND MATERIALS: OPTICAL PHENOMENA AND PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
Photo-electric effect The process whereby electrons are ejected from a metal surface when light of suitable
frequency is incident on /shines on the surface.
Threshold frequency The minimum frequency of light needed to emit electrons from a certain metal surface.
(fo)
Work function The minimum energy that an electron in the metal needs to be emitted from the metal
(Wo) surface.
Photo-electric equation E =Wo+ Kmax, where E = hf and Wo= hfo and Kmax = ½mv2max

Atomic absorption Formed when certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation that passes through a
spectrum medium, e.g. a cold gas, is absorbed.
Atomic emission Formed when certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation are emitted due to an
spectrum atom's electrons making a transition from a high-energy state to a lower energy state.

Terms, definitions, questions & answers © Free State Department of Education