Physical Terms
Physics words that are often confused
Mass amount of matter or material in an object;
Units of measurement – grams (g) or kilograms (kg);
measured using a pair of scales or balance e.g. top pan balance
Weight is the force of gravity on an object;
units of measurement – newtons (N);
measured using a newtonmeter (forcemeter or newton spring balance).
Force is a push or a pull;
can speed things up, slow them down, change their direction or shape;
e.g. gravity, friction, air and water resistance, upthrust, magnetic, electrostatic
Energy is the ability to get things done, make things move or the ability to do work;
unit of measurement – joules (J) or kilojoules (kJ)
e.g. potential gravitational, potential chemical,
potential strain (spring/elastic),
kinetic(movement), thermal(heat), light, sound, electrical.
Sources of energy Non –renewable i.e. fossil fuels e.g. coal, oil, natural gas (methane); nuclear fuel e.g.uranium;
Renewable or Alternative e.g. solar, wind, tidal, waves, biomass, food.
Circuits and
springs) in Series The components are joined along a single line
i.e. in one loop from one end of the cell (battery) to the other;
(joined end to end)
Circuits and
springs) in Parallel The components are joined side by side
i.e. in separate loops from one end of the cell (battery) to the other (joined side by side)
Electric current this is the flow of charge (negative electrons) around the circuit; shown flowing from the positive pole (longer) to the negative pole(shorter);
measured in amps/amperes (A) or milliamps (mA)
using an ammeter in series with the components.
Voltage is a measure of the amount of energy it can provide (or its pressure); it is measured in volts using a voltmeter in parallel with the component and is measured in volts (V)
Further Physics Reading
Click title to download
(all Word Documents)
- Electricity
- Energy
- Forces, Pressure and Density
- Formulae & Equations