Physics Technical Word Lists Forces Read through the word list to become familiar with the meanings. Word
Meaning
air resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving through air. It is a type of friction.
contact force
A force that needs to touch an object before it can affect it (e.g. friction).
drag
Air resistance and water resistance are both sometimes called drag.
force
A push or a pull.
newton meter
Piece of equipment containing a spring, used to measure forces.
friction
A force that tries to slow things down when two things rub against each other.
gravity
The force of attraction between any two objects. The Earth is very big and so has strong gravity that pulls everything down towards it.
magnetism
A force that attracts objects made out of iron.
newton (N)
The unit of force.
newton meter
Another name for a force meter.
non-contact force
A force that can affect something from a distance (e.g. gravity).
speed
How fast something is moving. Often measured in metres per second (m/s).
static electricity
A force which attracts things with extra electrical charges on them.
upthrust
A force that pushes things up.
water resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving through water. It is a type of friction.
density
The amount of mass that 1cm3 of a substance has. Measured in g/cm3.
displacement
The volume of water pushed out of the way by an object.
upthrust
A force that pushes thing up.
balanced forces
When two forces are the same strength, but working in opposite directions.
elastic
Any substance that will return to its original shape and size after it has been stretched or squashed.
gram
A unit for measuring mass (g). page- 1 -
gravity
The force of attraction between any two objects. The Earth is very big and so has a large gravity pulling everything down towards it.
kilogram
A unit for measuring mass (kg). There are 1000 g in 1 kg.
mass
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.
newton
The unit of force (N).
stationary
Not moving.
unbalanced forces
When two forces working in opposite directions are not the same strength.
weight
The amount of force with which gravity pulls something towards the Earth. It is measured in newtons (N).
air resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving through the air. It is a type of friction.
friction
A force that tries to slow things down when two things rub against each other.
lubricant
A substance (normally a liquid) used to reduce friction.
lubrication
Adding a lubricant to something.
water resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving through water. It is a type of friction.
braking distance
The distance a car travels while the brakes are trying to stop it.
distance/time graph
A graph that shows how far and how fast something travels during a journey.
kilometres per hour (km/h)
Units for speed when the distance is measured in kilometres and the time is measured in hours.
metres per second (m/s)
Units for speed when the distance is measured in metres and the time is measured in seconds.
miles per hour (mph)
Units for speed when the distance is measured in miles and the time is measured in hours.
speed
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.
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Energy Word
Meaning
chemical energy
The kind of energy stored in chemicals. Food, fuels and cells (batteries) all contain chemical energy.
electrical energy
The kind of energy carried by electricity.
generate
Make electricity by turning a magnet inside coils of wire.
heat energy
The hotter something is, the more heat energy it has.
kinetic energy
The kind of energy in moving things.
law of conservation of energy
The idea that energy can never be created or destroyed, only changed from one form into another.
light energy
The kind of energy given out by light bulbs, candles, etc.
nuclear energy
Energy stored inside the particles that things are made out of.
sound energy
The kind of energy made by anything that is making a noise.
uranium
A fuel used in nuclear power stations.
non-renewable energy resource
Any energy resource that will run out and we cannot renew our supplies of it (e.g. oil).
alternative Another name for renewable energy resources. energy resources biomass
Any fuel that comes from plants, animals, or their wastes (e.g. wood, methane from rotting plants, etc.).
generator
Large coil of wire with a magnet inside. When the magnet is turned, electricity is produced in the coil of wire.
geothermal power
Making electricity using heat from hot rocks underground.
hydroelectric power
Making electricity by letting falling water (usually from a reservoir) turn turbines and generators.
nuclear energy
Energy stored inside the particles that things are made out of.
radiation
Dangerous particles and energy given off by uranium and other radioactive materials.
renewable energy resource
An energy resource that will never run out (e.g. solar power).
solar cells
Flat plates that convert light energy into electrical energy.
solar panels
Flat plates that use the Sun's energy to heat water.
solar power
Making electricity by using light or heat energy from the Sun.
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turbine
The machine in a power station that is pushed round by water or steam and turns the generator.
uranium
A fuel used in nuclear power stations.
wind turbine
A kind of windmill that generates electricity using energy from the wind.
joule (J)
The unit for measuring energy.
kilojoule (kJ)
There are 1000 joules in 1 kilojoule.
convection current
A flow of liquid or gas caused by part of it being heated or cooled more than the rest.
geothermal power
Making electricity using heat from hot rocks underground.
hydroelectric power
Making electricity by letting falling water (usually from a reservoir) turn turbines and generators.
nuclear power
Making electricity by using the nuclear energy stored inside uranium.
tidal power
Making electricity using the moving (kinetic) energy from the tides.
Electricity Word
Meaning
ammeter
Measures how much electricity is flowing around a circuit.
amp (A)
The unit for current.
cell
A source of electricity with a low ‘energy’. Cells push electrons round a circuit.
circuit
A complete loop that electricity flows around.
component
Something in a circuit, like a bulb, switch or motor.
conductor
A material that lets electricity flow through it.
electric current
The flow of electricity around a circuit.
insulator
A material that does not let electricity flow through it.
mains (electricity)
Alternating current at 230 V provided to houses, shops etc.
power pack
A source of electricity with a low energy (low voltage).
switch
Turns electricity on or off, by closing or opening a gap in a circuit.
voltage
A way of saying how much energy is transferred by electricity.
atom
The smallest part of an element. page- 4 -
electric current
The flow of electrons around a circuit.
electrical energy
The kind of energy carried by electricity.
electron
Tiny particle that flows around a circuit.
filament
Thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when electricity is flowing through it.
model
A scientific way of thinking about how things happen.
resistance
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
A resistor that can be adjusted to change the amount of resistance it has.
voltage
A way of saying how much energy is transferred by electricity.
component
Something in a circuit, like a bulb, switch or motor.
parallel circuit
A circuit with two or more wires running next to each other.
series circuit
A circuit where there is only one loop of wire.
cable grip
Part of a plug that holds the cable, and stops the wires being pulled out of the pins.
earth wire
The green and yellow wire in a cable or plug.
filament
Thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when electricity is flowing through it.
fuse
A piece of wire that melts if too much electricity flows through it.
