OCR GCSE Physics B key terms

The amount of energy used per unit of activity or output; a decrease usually indicates improved energy efficiency.

A source of energy that can be used by people, such as a fuel, moving air or sunlight.

A way in which energy is held in a system, such as a kinetic energy store or an internal energy store.

The movement of energy from one store or place to another, such as from a battery to a lamp and its surroundings.

A process that transfers energy between stores, such as electrical transfer, mechanical work or heating.

A state in which the forces are balanced and the resultant force is zero.

The undisturbed or central position about which a particle oscillates.

The resistance of one imaginary resistor that would have the same overall effect as a combination of resistors; it is also called net or total resistance.

A mark on a graph showing the uncertainty or spread associated with a plotted value.

An approximate value obtained from suitable known or judged quantities rather than an exact measurement.

A question about what people ought to do, involving judgements about values, rights or responsibilities.

Information obtained through observations or investigations and used to assess a scientific claim or explanation.

An electron arrangement in which an electron has gained energy and moved farther from the nucleus.

The large-scale increase in the distances between galaxies as space expands.

A planned sequence of actions for making observations or collecting data to answer a scientific question.

The increase in a spring’s length compared with its unstretched length.

An estimate read from a graph beyond the range of measured values.

Energy used directly by people and businesses in activities such as heating, transport and operating machinery.

A component designed to provide an approximately constant resistance when its temperature and other physical conditions are constant.

A rule using the thumb, first finger and second finger of the left hand to show the relative directions of force, magnetic field and conventional current.

A liquid or gas that can flow.

The distance from the optical centre of a lens to its principal focus.

A push or pull arising from an interaction and measured in newtons (N).

A lever arrangement that allows a smaller effort force to produce a larger force on a load; the effort moves through a greater distance than the load.

The direction of potential difference across a diode that allows it to conduct.

A diagram showing the external forces acting on one isolated object or system as labelled arrows.

The number of complete waves passing a fixed point each second, measured in hertz (Hz).