OCR GCSE Physics B key terms

A toothed wheel that turns about an axle and transfers a rotational effect to another gear.

A device that produces a potential difference when a magnet and a coil of wire move relative to one another, transferring energy mechanically into an electrical pathway.

The change in the vertical quantity divided by the corresponding change in the horizontal quantity.

The gravitational force acting on each kilogram of mass, measured in newtons per kilogram (N/kg).

The energy associated with an object's position in a gravitational field; raising the object increases this energy.

An energy store that increases when an object is raised in a gravitational field.

The natural process in which atmospheric gases absorb and re-emit some of the infrared radiation emitted by Earth, keeping its surface warmer than it would otherwise be.

A gas that absorbs and re-emits some of the infrared radiation emitted by Earth, such as carbon dioxide, methane or water vapour.

The time taken for the activity of a radioactive material, or its number of undecayed nuclei, to fall to half its value.

Something with the potential to cause harm.

The relationship in which the force exerted by a spring is proportional to its extension, provided the spring remains in its linear region.

A proposed, testable explanation for an observation or pattern in evidence.

The variable whose values are changed or selected in an investigation.

A material that becomes magnetised because it is placed in a magnetic field.

The process by which a magnetic material becomes a magnet while in an external magnetic field.

A voltage produced across a conductor by a changing magnetic field.

The tendency of an object to resist a change in its velocity.

A measure of how difficult it is to change an object’s velocity, defined by $m=F/a$.

The object's speed at the start of the time interval or measured section being considered, measured in m/s.

The speed at one particular moment.

The power of radiation passing through or arriving at each unit area.

The two forces produced when two objects interact; they are the same type, equal in magnitude, opposite in direction and act on different objects.

The boundary where two different materials meet.

The total energy associated with the motion and arrangement of the particles in a system.

The internationally agreed system of measurement units used to communicate physical quantities consistently.

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

The length of time for which a card attached to a moving object blocks a light gate.