Key terms & definitions

The ability of a material to withstand rubbing without being damaged or worn away.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a polymer made using chemical starting materials obtained from crude oil.

The controlled separation and dropping of a plant part, such as a leaf.

A plantation owner who lives away from the plantation rather than supervising it in person.

Dating that assigns a calendar date or range of dates to an object or event.

The actual number of people or events, rather than their share of a total.

The view that a moral rule applies in every situation, regardless of the circumstances.

The belief that war and violence are never morally justified, regardless of the circumstances or intended benefits.

Severe deprivation of basic necessities such as food, clean water and shelter.

A situation in which people lack the resources to meet basic needs such as sufficient food, clothing and shelter.

The probability of a specified event occurring in a particular group or trial, often an undesirable event. From collected data, it is estimated by dividing the number of occurrences by the total number of observations.

Truth that is unchanging and does not depend on an individual's opinion or circumstances.

The distance of a number from zero. For example, $|-7|=7$.

The lowest possible temperature, equal to 0 K or approximately −273 °C.

The lowest possible temperature, taken as $-273\,°\text{C}$ or $0\,\text{K}$. In the GCSE particle model, particles have no movement and zero kinetic energy at this temperature.

The forgiveness of sins pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation.

The belief that certain actions are always right or always wrong, regardless of circumstances.

A conscientious objector who refuses all involvement in the war effort, including alternative civilian work.

To take in energy from radiation falling on an object.

The amount of ionising radiation absorbed by matter, such as body tissue.

Radiation taken in by a body, transferring energy to it.

The ability to take in and hold moisture.

An object or material that takes in energy carried by a wave.

An object or material that takes in energy carried by waves.

The movement of digested, soluble molecules from the small intestine into the body.

The taking in of radiation by matter, transferring energy to that matter.

The transfer of a wave’s energy to a material as the wave passes into it.

The transfer of energy from radiation to the material it encounters.

A dark line at a particular wavelength in a continuous spectrum, produced when an element absorbs that wavelength.

A pattern of dark lines produced when particular wavelengths are absorbed from a continuous spectrum.