<term data="absolutetemperature.

mp3" name="absolute temperature scale"> <description>The Kelvin or thermodynamic temperature scale with zero at -273 C, the temperature at which the pressure of an ideal gas becomes zero.</description> </term> <term data="absolutezero.mp3" name="absolute zero"> <description>The temperature at which the pressure of an ideal gas becomes zero. This is 0 K on the Kelvin temperature scale, which is equivalent to -273 C.</description> </term> <term data="absorptioncoefficient.mp3" name="absorption coefficient"> <description>A measure of how rapidly the intensity of radiation is attenuated, or reduced, with distance.</description> </term> <term data="accelerate.mp3" name="accelerate"> <description>To increase velocity.</description> </term> <term data="acceleration.mp3" name="acceleration"> <description>The rate of change of an object's velocity.</description> </term> <term data="accelerationgravity.mp3" name="acceleration due to gravity"> <description>The rate of increase in velocity due to the force of gravity acting on a mass. On Earth the acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m s?.</description> </term> <term data="accelerationoffreefall.mp3" name="acceleration of free fall"> <description>The acceleration due to gravity.</description> </term>

<term data="acceptor.mp3" name="acceptor"> <description>Material that accepts electrons from a semiconductor lattice so that electric charge is carried as positive holes. Doping with an acceptor impurity results in a p-type semiconductor.</description> </term> <term data="accrete.mp3" name="accrete"> <description>To grow together. Accretion is the gravitational attraction of mass by interstellar objects which causes them to clump together and increase in size.</description> </term> <term data="activenoisecontrol.mp3" name="active noise control"> <description>Noise reduction method that combines the noise with its antiphase signal so the two cancel out.</description> </term> <term data="activityradioactivity.mp3" name="activity (radioactivity)"> <description>The activity, A, of a radioactive sample is the number of nuclei decaying every second. It is proportional to the number of nuclei in the sample, N.</description> </term> <term data="ADconverter.mp3" name="A-D converter"> <description>A device that converts analogue signals with a range of values to their digital equivalent consisting of a sequence of 0s and 1s.</description> </term> <term data="aerodynamicdrag.mp3" name="aerodynamic drag"> <description>The frictional force experienced by an object as it moves through air.</description> </term> <term data="aerodynamics.mp3" name="aerodynamics"> <description>The study of how air flows around a moving object and the forces created.</description> </term>

<term data="alphadecay.mp3" name="alpha decay"> <description>Radioactive decay in which the nucleus releases an alpha particle (a helium nucleus). In alpha decay the mass number decreases by 4 and the proton number by 2.</description> </term> <term data="alpharadiation.mp3" name="alpha radiation"> <description>Alpha radiation is highly ionising and quickly loses energy. Alpha particles are large and positively charged, being composed of two neutrons and two protons. An alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of an atom of helium-4.</description> </term> <term data="ampere.mp3" name="ampere"> <description>The SI unit of current, symbol A. A current of 1 A is equal to a flow of 1 coulomb of charge per second (1 A=1 C s).</description> </term> <term data="amplitude.mp3" name="amplitude"> <description>The maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position.</description> </term> <term data="amplitudemodulation.mp3" name="amplitude modulation"> <description>Transmission of a signal by varying the amplitude of the carrier wave.</description> </term> <term data="analogue.mp3" name="analogue"> <description>A signal that varies over a continuous range of values.</description> </term> <term data="angleofincidence.mp3" name="angle of incidence"> <description>The angle between the incident ray to a surface and the normal at the point of contact.</description> </term>

<term data="angleofreflection.mp3" name="angle of reflection"> <description>The angle between the reflected ray from a surface and the normal at the point of contact.</description> </term> <term data="angleofrefraction.mp3" name="angle of refraction"> <description>The angle through which a ray is bent as it crosses the boundary between two media. The angle is measured from the normal at the point of contact.</description> </term> <term data="angulardiameter.mp3" name="angular diameter"> <description>Of a star, moon or planet the angle formed between lines drawn from the observer to opposite sides of an object.</description> </term> <term data="angulardisplacement.mp3" name="angular displacement"> <description>The angle through which a rotating object has turned.</description> </term> <term data="angularvelocity.mp3" name="angular velocity"> <description>The rate of rotation of an object, measured as the angle turned per unit time, for example radians per second (rad s).</description> </term> <term data="annihilationreaction.mp3" name="annihilation reaction"> <description>A reaction between a particle and its antiparticle in which the particles turn into electromagnetic radiation.</description> </term> <term data="antibaryon.mp3" name="anti-baryon"> <description>A particle composed of three anti-quarks.</description> </term> <term data="antimatter.mp3" name="antimatter">

<description>Matter with equal mass but opposite charge and spin to ordinary matter, for example the positron is the antiparticle to the electron.</description> </term> <term data="antinode.mp3" name="antinode"> <description>Position along a standing wave at which there is greatest displacement.</description> </term> <term data="antiparticle.mp3" name="antiparticle"> <description>Antiparticles have the same mass and opposite charge as their corresponding particle.</description> </term> <term data="antiphase.mp3" name="antiphase"> <description>Two oscillations are in antiphase when they are half a cycle (180 or p radians) out of step.</description> </term> <term data="Archimedesprinciple.mp3" name="Archimedes principle"> <description>An object wholly or partly immersed in a fluid experiences an upthrust equal to the weight of fluid displaced.</description> </term> <term data="astable.mp3" name="astable"> <description>A circuit that has no stable output state.</description> </term> <term data="astronomicalunit.mp3" name="astronomical unit"> <description>A measure of distance used in astrophysics and cosmology. The radius of the Earths orbit around the Sun. 1 AU is equal to 150 billion metres.</description> </term> <term data="atomicnumber.mp3" name="atomic number"> <description>The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.</description> </term>

<term data="attenuation.mp3" name="attenuation"> <description>A loss of intensity of a signal.</description> </term> <term data="avalanche.mp3" name="avalanche"> <description>An effect when a charged particle or photon interacts with other particles to produce a much greater number of charged particles or photons, for example in a photomultiplier tube or in a laser.</description> </term> <term data="averagespeed.mp3" name="average speed"> <description>Value for speed obtained by dividing the total distance covered by the time taken. This may be very different from the instantaneous speed.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="B"> <term data="backgroundradiation.mp3" name="background radiation"> <description>Low levels of radiation in the environment, largely from natural sources.</description> </term> <term data="baryon.mp3" name="baryon"> <description>Hadron made from three quarks bound together. The proton and the neutron are both baryons.</description> </term> <term data="baryonnumber.mp3" name="baryon number"> <description>The baryon number is one third of the difference between the number of quarks and the number of antiquarks within a system.</description> </term> <term data="baseunits.mp3" name="base units"> <description>The seven fundamental units on which the SI system of units is

based. These include units for mass (kilogram, kg), length (metre, m), time (second, s), electric current (ampere, A) and thermodynamic temperature (kelvin, K).</description> </term> <term data="becquerel.mp3" name="becquerel"> <description>The unit of nuclear activity. 1 Becquerel is equivalent to one decay per second.</description> </term> <term data="betaradiation.mp3" name="beta radiation"> <description>Beta radiation consists of high speed electrons (or positrons) released when the nucleus of a radioactive atom decays. Beta radiation is moderately ionising but can be absorbed by a thin sheet of aluminium.</description> </term> <term data="betaminusdecay.mp3" name="beta-minus decay"> <description>Radioactive decay in which an electron and an antineutrino are emitted as a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton. The atomic number of the parent atom is increased by 1.</description> </term> <term data="betaplusdecay.mp3" name="beta-plus decay"> <description>Radioactive decay in which a positron and a neutrino are emitted as a proton in the nucleus turns into a neutron. The atomic number of the parent atom is decreased by 1.</description> </term> <term data="BigBangtheory.mp3" name="Big Bang theory"> <description>The theory that the Universe evolved from a single very hot explosion.</description> </term> <term data="BigCrunch.mp3" name="Big Crunch"> <description>A possible fate for the Universe, where it collapses back on itself to a singularity.</description> </term>

<term data="binarystar.mp3" name="binary star"> <description>A system of two stars orbiting around their common centre of gravity.</description> </term> <term data="bindingenergy.mp3" name="binding energy"> <description>The minimum external energy required to separate all the neutrons and protons of a nucleus.</description> </term> <term data="bit.mp3" name="bit"> <description>Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of data used in a digital system such as a computer.</description> </term> <term data="blackbody.mp3" name="black body"> <description>An object that is a perfect emitter and absorber of radiation. A black body absorbs all wavelengths that fall upon it and radiates all wavelengths. The spectrum of wavelengths emitted depends only on its temperature.</description> </term> <term data="blackbodyradiation.mp3" name="black body radiation"> <description>The radiation that is emitted from an object because of its temperature.</description> </term> <term data="blackdwarf.mp3" name="black dwarf"> <description>The theoretical endpoint of the life cycle of a low-mass star.</description> </term> <term data="blackhole.mp3" name="black hole"> <description>A remnant of a massive star formed when its matter collapses to a point (singularity). The density of a black hole is so great that even light cannot escape from it.</description> </term>

<term data="bluesupergiant.mp3" name="blue supergiant"> <description>Very hot, massive, luminous star with a short lifespan observed in young cosmic structures.</description> </term> <term data="Boltzmannconstant.mp3" name="Boltzmann constant"> <description>The constant that relates the average energy of a molecule to its absolute temperature.</description> </term> <term data="Boyleslaw.mp3" name="Boyles law"> <description>Boyles law states that for a constant mass of gas at a constant temperature, the pressure exerted by the gas is inversely proportional to the volume it occupies.</description> </term> <term data="breakingstress.mp3" name="breaking stress"> <description>The maximum stress (force per unit area) that can be applied to a material before it is pulled apart (also called the tensile strength).</description> </term> <term data="brittle.mp3" name="brittle"> <description>A material that shows no plastic deformation and breaks just beyond its elastic limit.</description> </term> <term data="bulkmodulus.mp3" name="bulk modulus"> <description>The ratio of the stress applied to an object and the change in volume per unit volume.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="C"> <term data="capacitance.mp3" name="capacitance"> <description>The amount of charge stored per unit potential difference across

the plates of a capacitor.</description> </term> <term data="capacitor.mp3" name="capacitor"> <description>A device that stores electric charge.</description> </term> <term data="carrierwave.mp3" name="carrier wave"> <description>A wave used to carry a signal, which may be added to the carrier wave as frequency modulation, amplitude modulation or pulse code modulation.</description> </term> <term data="centreofgravity.mp3" name="centre of gravity"> <description>The point through which all the weight of an object appears to act.</description> </term> <term data="centreofmass.mp3" name="centre of mass"> <description>The point through which all the mass of an object appears to be concentrated.</description> </term> <term data="centripetalacceleration.mp3" name="centripetal acceleration"> <description>Acceleration of a moving object towards the centre of a circle as a result of a centripetal force.</description> </term> <term data="centripetalforce.mp3" name="centripetal force"> <description>A force that acts towards the centre of a circle.</description> </term> <term data="chainreaction.mp3" name="chain reaction"> <description>In nuclear physics, a chain reaction occurs when the products of one nuclear reaction lead to one or more subsequent nuclear reactions.</description> </term>

<term data="charge.mp3" name="charge"> <description>A fundamental property of matter that exists as positive and negative forms.</description> </term> <term data="Charleslaw.mp3" name="Charles law"> <description>Charless law states that for a constant mass of gas at a constant pressure, the volume occupied by the gas is proportional to its absolute temperature.</description> </term> <term data="chemicalpotential.mp3" name="chemical potential energy"> <description>The energy in chemical bonds holding the atoms of a compound together, which can be released by a chemical reaction.</description> </term> <term data="circuitelement.mp3" name="circuit element"> <description>Part of an electrical circuit.</description> </term> <term data="circularwaves.mp3" name="circular waves"> <description>Waves that spread out in concentric circles from the source of the disturbance.</description> </term> <term data="cladding.mp3" name="cladding"> <description>Material used to surround the core of an optical fibre that has a refractive index slightly less than that of the fibre, to help reduce dispersion.</description> </term> <term data="closedUniverse.mp3" name="closed Universe"> <description>A model of the Universe in which gravity is strong enough to halt its expansion and reverse the process, so that the Universe eventually comes together in a Big Crunch.</description> </term>

<term data="coefficientviscosity.mp3" name="coefficient of viscosity"> <description>A measure of the resistance to flow of a fluid.</description> </term> <term data="coherent.mp3" name="coherent"> <description>Waves that are of the same frequency and phase are coherent.</description> </term> <term data="companding.mp3" name="companding"> <description>A way of arranging quantum levels in which they are compressed and expanded.</description> </term> <term data="compression.mp3" name="compression"> <description>Squashing of a material. The part of a longitudinal wave where the pressure is greatest is known as a compression.</description> </term> <term data="compressiveforce.mp3" name="compressive force"> <description>The force on a material which tends to reduce the volume - to squash the material.</description> </term> <term data="compressivestrain.mp3" name="compressive strain"> <description>The amount of deformation per unit length of a material that is being squashed.</description> </term> <term data="compressivestrength.mp3" name="compressive strength"> <description>The resistance to deformation of a material when subjected to a load that squashes it (compression).</description> </term> <term data="compressivestress.mp3" name="compressive stress"> <description>The compressive force per unit area.</description> </term>

<term data="conservationofcharge.mp3" name="conservation of charge"> <description>In a circuit, the amount of charge flowing in at a point must be equal to the amount of charge flowing out. In nuclear physics, conservation of electric charge applies to nuclear reactions, requiring the electric charge at the end to be the same as the electric charge at the start.</description> </term> <term data="conserved.mp3" name="conserved"> <description>A quantity that stays the same is conserved.</description> </term> <term data="constructiveinter.mp3" name="constructive interference"> <description>When two waves at the same point are in phase with each other so the resultant is a wave with increased intensity.</description> </term> <term data="continuousspectrum.mp3" name="continuous spectrum"> <description>A spectrum that contains an entire range of frequencies.</description> </term> <term data="continuouswaves.mp3" name="continuous waves"> <description>Waves that go on forever, that is they have infinite length.</description> </term> <term data="controlrod.mp3" name="control rod"> <description>Typically cadmium or boron rods used to control the reaction in a nuclear reactor. Lowered into a reactor, these absorb excess neutrons.</description> </term> <term data="cosmicbackground.mp3" name="cosmic background radiation"> <description>Electromagnetic radiation in the microwave region of the spectrum that corresponds to a temperature of the Universe of 2.7 K.</description> </term>

<term data="cosmologicalprinciple.mp3" name="cosmological principle"> <description>The principle that the large-scale structure is the same throughout the Universe.</description> </term> <term data="cosmologicalredshift.mp3" name="cosmological redshift"> <description>The shifting of the entire spectrum of a receding source to longer wavelengths.</description> </term> <term data="cosmology.mp3" name="cosmology"> <description>The study of the Universe.</description> </term> <term data="coulomb.mp3" name="coulomb"> <description>The SI unit of electric charge, symbol C. The coulomb is derived from the base unit the ampere: 1 A=1 C s.</description> </term> <term data="Coulombslaw.mp3" name="Coulombs law"> <description>Law relating the force between two charged particles to their charges and the distance between them.</description> </term> <term data="criticalangle.mp3" name="critical angle"> <description>For light travelling from a denser medium to a less dense medium, the largest possible internal angle of incidence that will allow light to emerge. For angles larger than the critical angle the light is totally internally reflected.</description> </term> <term data="criticaldensity.mp3" name="critical density"> <description>The density of the Universe that just allows it to stop the expansion of space after infinite time.</description> </term> <term data="criticalUniverse.mp3" name="critical Universe">

<description>A model in which the Universe has a density equal to the critical density. Also called a flat Universe because the geometry of space in a critical Universe is not curved, but flat.</description> </term> <term data="cycle.mp3" name="cycle"> <description>The repeating unit of a periodic motion.</description> </term> <term data="cyclotron.mp3" name="cyclotron"> <description>A particle accelerator that uses magnetic fields to bend the beam of particles into a circle.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="D"> <term data="DAconverter.mp3" name="D-A converter"> <description>An electronic device used to convert digital signals to analogue ones.</description> </term> <term data="dampedoscillation.mp3" name="damped oscillation"> <description>Oscillation which loses energy with each oscillation, reducing the amplitude over time.</description> </term> <term data="damping.mp3" name="damping"> <description>Energy loss of a vibration due to friction.</description> </term> <term data="darkmatter.mp3" name="dark matter"> <description>Matter in the Universe that we cannot detect by emission or absorption of radiation. Evidence for its existence comes from its gravitational effect on other objects in the Universe.</description> </term>

<term data="daughternucleus.mp3" name="daughter nucleus"> <description>The product nucleus of a radioactive decay.</description> </term> <term data="deBrogliewavelength.mp3" name="de Broglie wavelength"> <description>The wavelength of an electron when it behaves as a wave rather than as a particle. l =h/p (where l is the wavelength, h is the Planck constant and p is the electrons momentum).</description> </term> <term data="decay.mp3" name="decay"> <description>1. In nuclear physics, the process by which an unstable nucleus changes spontaneously to a more stable one, through emission of ionising radiation. 2. The gradual decline of a system.</description> </term> <term data="decayconstant.mp3" name="decay constant"> <description>The constant relating the number of atoms of a radionuclide that decay in a given period of time and the total number of atoms of the same kind present at the beginning of that period. dN/dt=-lN.</descrition> </term> <term data="demodulation.mp3" name="demodulation"> <description>The process of extracting the information from a modulated carrier wave.</description> </term> <term data="demultiplexer.mp3" name="demultiplexer"> <description>A device that extracts and reassembles multiplexed signals at the receiving end.</description> </term> <term data="density.mp3" name="density"> <description>Mass per unit volume: r = m/V.</description> </term> <term data="dependentvariable.mp3" name="dependent variable">

<description>The variable that is being investigated in an experiment. The value of the dependent variable is measured for each value of the independent variable chosen by the experimenter.</description> </term> <term data="derivedunits.mp3" name="derived units"> <description>SI units can be combined to give derived units, such as speed (m s?) or force (N=kg m s?).</description> </term> <term data="destructiveinterference.mp3" name="destructive interference"> <description>Cancelling out that occurs when two waves arrive at a point in antiphase.</description> </term> <term data="diffraction.mp3" name="diffraction"> <description>The interaction between waves and solid obstacles. If the obstacle is similar in size to the wavelength of the wave, then the wave shows a marked change in direction.</description> </term> <term data="digital.mp3" name="digital"> <description>A signal consisting of 1s and 0s only.</description> </term> <term data="directionofelectric.mp3" name="direction of an electric field"> <description>The direction of the force experienced by a positive electric charge placed in that field.</description> </term> <term data="dispersion.mp3" name="dispersion"> <description>Spreading out of a signal such as a beam of light.</description> </term> <term data="displacement.mp3" name="displacement"> <description>Distance moved from a reference point. Displacement is a vector quantity.</description>

</term> <term data="donor.mp3" name="donor"> <description>Material that releases free electrons into a semiconductor lattice to act as negative charge carriers. Doping with a donor impurity results in an n-type semiconductor.</description> </term> <term data="Dopplereffect.mp3" name="Doppler effect"> <description>The change in the frequency and wavelength of a wave caused by the relative movement of source and detector.</description> </term> <term data="driftvelocity.mp3" name="drift velocity"> <description>The average velocity of the electrons in a conductor due to an electric field.</description> </term> <term data="driverfrequency.mp3" name="driver frequency"> <description>The frequency of an external force that causes a system to oscillate at that frequency.</description> </term> <term data="drivingfrequency.mp3" name="driving frequency"> <description>The frequency of an external force that causes a system to oscillate at that frequency.</description> </term> <term data="ductile.mp3" name="ductile"> <description>A material that shows plastic deformation without breaking is ductile. A ductile material can be pulled into wires, for example copper.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="E"> <term data="eddycurrent.mp3" name="eddy current">

<description>Currents induced in the body of a material by a changing magnetic field.</description> </term> <term data="efficiency.mp3" name="efficiency"> <description>The ratio of energy output to energy input. Efficiency is usually given as a percentage: efficiency=useful energy (or power) output / total energy (or power) input x 100%</description> </term> <term data="elasticcollision.mp3" name="elastic collision"> <description>A collision in which there is no net loss of kinetic energy.</description> </term> <term data="elasticlimit.mp3" name="elastic limit"> <description>The load on a spring beyond which the extension increases more rapidly than expected, and the spring remains permanently deformed when the load is removed.</description> </term> <term data="elasticstrainenergy.mp3" name="elastic strain energy"> <description>The energy stored in a stretched spring.</description> </term> <term data="electricdipole.mp3" name="electric dipole"> <description>A pair of equal and opposite electric charges separated by a small distance.</description> </term> <term data="electricfield.mp3" name="electric field"> <description>A region in which a charged object experiences a force.</description> </term> <term data="electricfieldlines.mp3" name="electric field lines">

<description>A way of showing an electric field diagrammatically to indicate the strength of the field and the direction of the field.</description> </term> <term data="electricfieldstrength.mp3" name="electric field strength"> <description>The electric field strength of an electric field is the force experienced by a charge of 1 coulomb placed in that field.</description> </term> <term data="electromagnet.mp3" name="electromagnet"> <description>A type of magnet made using an electric current in coils around a core.</description> </term> <term data="electromagneticforce.mp3" name="electromagnetic force"> <description>The force experienced by a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.</description> </term> <term data="electromagneticind.mp3" name="electromagnetic induction"> <description>The production of an emf using magnetism.</description> </term> <term data="electromagneticrelay.mp3" name="electromagnetic relay"> <description>An enclosed mechanical switch that can use one electrical circuit to operate another.</description> </term> <term data="electromagneticspectrum.mp3" name="electromagnetic spectrum"> <description>The entire range of electromagnetic radiation, from the longest radio waves to the shortest gamma rays.</description> </term> <term data="electromagneticwaves.mp3" name="electromagnetic waves"> <description>Transverse waves that combine oscillating magnetic and electric fields. Electromagnetic waves do not need a medium through which to travel, and so can travel through empty space.</description>

</term> <term data="electromotiveforce.mp3" name="electromotive force"> <description>The electromotive force (or emf) of a cell is the amount of energy supplied by the cell to each unit of charge.</description> </term> <term data="electron.mp3" name="electron"> <description>Subatomic particle with a negative charge and very small mass.</description> </term> <term data="electrongas.mp3" name="electron gas"> <description>The free electrons in a metal, given this name because they have random movements like the particles in a gas.</description> </term> <term data="electrongun.mp3" name="electron gun"> <description>Source of electrons inside a cathode ray tube. The electrons are released from a negative electrode (a cathode) and accelerated in an electric field.</description> </term> <term data="electronvolt.mp3" name="electronvolt"> <description>The energy gained by an electron travelling through a potential difference of 1 volt.</description> </term> <term data="emf.mp3" name="emf"> <description>The energy gained per unit charge by charges passing through an electrical supply. The unit for emf is J C or volts (V).</description> </term> <term data="emissionspectra.mp3" name="emission spectra"> <description>Characteristic colours (frequencies) of light given out by an element when its atoms are excited.</description> </term>

<term data="energyflux.mp3" name="energy flux"> <description>The rate at which energy crosses unit area. Also called intensity.</description> </term> <term data="energytransfer.mp3" name="energy transfer"> <description>The process by which energy is transferred from one object to another, for example by heating or working. An object with energy has the capacity to do work.</description> </term> <term data="equationofstate.mp3" name="equation of state"> <description>An equation relating the pressure, volume and temperature of an ideal gas. pV=NkT.</description> </term> <term data="equilibrium.mp3" name="equilibrium"> <description>A steady state. The forces on a body in equilibrium are balanced.</description> </term> <term data="equilibriumposition.mp3" name="equilibrium position"> <description>The rest position of an object.</description> </term> <term data="equipotentials.mp3" name="equipotentials"> <description>Locations within a field that have the same potential.</description> </term> <term data="escapevelocity.mp3" name="escape velocity"> <description>The minimum velocity needed by an object to escape from the pull of gravity of the object from which it is launched.</description> </term> <term data="exchangeboson.mp3" name="exchange boson">

<description>Particle exchanged as part of a force interaction.</description> </term> <term data="explosion.mp3" name="explosion"> <description>When a system with zero total momentum spontaneously flies apart. From conservation of momentum, the total momentum after the explosion will be zero.</description> </term> <term data="exponential.mp3" name="exponential"> <description>A type of relationship in which equal steps result in equal fractional changes.</description> </term> <term data="extrinsicsemiconductor.mp3" name="extrinsic semiconductor"> <description>Semiconductor in which extra charge carriers are introduced as a result of doping the semiconductor with an impurity.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="F"> <term data="Faradayslaw.mp3" name="Faradays law of electromagnetic induction"> <description>The size of the emf induced in a loop of a conductor is proportional to the rate at which the magnetic flux in the loop is changed.</description> </term> <term data="fieldlines.mp3" name="field lines"> <description>Imaginary lines representing the influence of a field. Where the lines are close together the field is strong, and where they are farther apart the field is weaker. Also called lines of force.</description> </term> <term data="fission.mp3" name="fission"> <description>Radioactive decay in which the nucleus breaks up into smaller particles.</description> </term>

<term data="Flemingslefthandrule.mp3" name="Flemings left-hand rule"> <description>Uses the left hand to find the direction of the electromagnetic force on a current-carrying conductor. With thumb, first finger and second finger at right angles to each other, the first finger represents the direction of the magnetic field, the second finger the direction of the current and the thumb the direction of motion (the direction of the force).</description> </term> <term data="Flemingsrighthandrule.mp3" name="Flemings right-hand rule"> <description>Uses the right hand to find the direction of the induced current when a conductor is moved in a magnetic field. With thumb, first finger and second finger at right angles to each other, the first finger represents the direction of the magnetic field, the second finger the direction of the current and the thumb the direction of movement of the wire.</description> </term> <term data="fluid.mp3" name="fluid"> <description>A medium that can flow. Gases and liquids are fluids.</description> </term> <term data="force.mp3" name="force"> <description>A push or pull that can cause an object with mass to accelerate. Force has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity.</description> </term> <term data="forcedoscillation.mp3" name="forced oscillation"> <description>The resulting oscillation when a periodic driving force is applied to an oscillating system. When oscillation is forced, the system oscillates at the driving frequency.</description> </term> <term data="freebodydiagram.mp3" name="free-body diagram"> <description>A diagram that shows all the forces acting on a body in a certain situation.</description> </term> <term data="frequency.mp3" name="frequency"> <description>The number of cycles of an oscillation that occur in unit time. The

unit is the hertz (Hz) or s.</description> </term> <term data="frequencydivision.mp3" name="frequency division multiplexing"> <description>A method of transmitting several analogue signals along the same cable in which the different signals are modulated onto a carrier wave at different frequencies. At the receiving end a band-pass filter is used to separate the signals, which are then demodulated.</description> </term> <term data="frequencymodulation.mp3" name="frequency modulation"> <description>Transmission of a signal by varying the frequency of the carrier wave.</description> </term> <term data="friction.mp3" name="friction"> <description>Resistance to movement caused by the small-scale roughness of the surfaces in contact.</description> </term> <term data="fringes.mp3" name="fringes"> <description>Interference pattern of bright and dark bands.</description> </term> <term data="fuelrod.mp3" name="fuel rod"> <description>Uranium or plutonium rods in a nuclear reactor, providing the fuel for the reaction.</description> </term> <term data="fundamentalforce.mp3" name="fundamental force"> <description>A force that cannot be explained in terms of anther force. Gravity and the electromagnetic force are fundamental forces.</description> </term> <term data="fundamentalmode.mp3" name="fundamental mode"> <description>The vibration with the lowest frequency.</description> </term>

<term data="fundamentalparticles.mp3" name="fundamental particles"> <description>Particles that cannot be divided into smaller constituents.</description> </term> <term data="fusion.mp3" name="fusion"> <description>Nuclear reactions in which nuclei fuse to form a new, larger nucleus.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="G"> <term data="gammadecay.mp3" name="gamma decay"> <description>Radioactive decay in which a nucleus becomes more stable by emitting a photon of gamma radiation.</description> </term> <term data="gammaradiation.mp3" name="gamma radiation"> <description>Electromagnetic radiation emitted when a radioactive nucleus decays. Gamma rays are photons with very high energy.</description> </term> <term data="gammarays.mp3" name="gamma rays"> <description>Electromagnetic radiation emitted when a nucleus decays. Gamma rays are photons with very high energy.</description> </term> <term data="gradedindex.mp3" name="graded index"> <description>Optical fibres in which the refractive index changes gradually across the fibre so it is greater in the centre than at the edges. Rays travelling in different parts of the fibre have different speeds, so the rays meet at the end without dispersion. Also known as multimode fibres.</description> </term> <term data="gradient.mp3" name="gradient">

<description>The slope of a graph (gradient=change in y value change in x value). The gradient is the value of m in the equation y=mx + c.</description> </term> <term data="GrandUnifiedTheories.mp3" name="Grand Unified Theories"> <description>Theories that bring the fundamental forces that act between fundamental particles together into one theory.</description> </term> <term data="graph.mp3" name="graph"> <description>A plot of one variable against another. The shape or slope of the graph provides information about the relationship between the two variables.</description> </term> <term data="gravitation.mp3" name="gravitation"> <description>The attractive force between two bodies due to their mass.</description> </term> <term data="gravitationalfield.mp3" name="gravitational field"> <description>The field around a mass which causes it to attract another mass which is close to it.</description> </term> <term data="gravitationalfieldstrength.mp3" name="gravitational field strength"> <description>Gravitational field strength g at a point in a gravitational field is defined as the force per unit mass acting at that point.</description> </term> <term data="gravitationalpotential.mp3" name="gravitational potential energy"> <description>Potential energy stored in an object due to its position.</description> </term> <term data="gravity.mp3" name="gravity"> <description>see gravitation</description> </term>

<term data="groundstate.mp3" name="ground state"> <description>The state in which an atom has its lowest energy.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="H"> <term data="hadron.mp3" name="hadron"> <description>Groups of quarks held together by strong forces (baryons and mesons).</description> </term> <term data="halflife.mp3" name="half-life"> <description>The time taken for half the radioactive nuclei of a radioactive substance to decay.</description> </term> <term data="hard.mp3" name="hard"> <description>Hard materials are those which resist plastic deformation. This means the are difficult to dent, scratch or cut.</description> </term> <term data="harmonicmotion.mp3" name="harmonic motion"> <description>Vibrations and any kind of motion that repeats itself, such as the swinging of a simple pendulum or a mass bouncing on a spring.</description> </term> <term data="harmonics.mp3" name="harmonics"> <description>The set of vibrations associated with a system, such as the vibrations of a musical instrument.</description> </term> <term data="heating.mp3" name="heating"> <description>One of the ways in which energy can be transferred. Energy is transferred in heating as the result of a temperature difference.</description> </term>

<term data="heliocentric.mp3" name="heliocentric"> <description>A model of the solar system with the Sun at the centre.</description> </term> <term data="HertzsprungRussell.mp3" name="Hertzsprung-Russell diagram"> <description>Graph of luminosity of stars against their surface temperature. On this diagram stars appear in groups related to the age and size of the star.</description> </term> <term data="hole.mp3" name="hole"> <description>A positive charge in a semiconductor lattice which can act as a charge carrier.</description> </term> <term data="horsepower.mp3" name="horsepower"> <description>A unit of power that dates back from before the industrial revolution, but is still used to describe the power of a cars engine. 1 HP is about 750 W.</description> </term> <term data="Hubbleconstant.mp3" name="Hubble constant"> <description>The ratio of the speed v of a receding galaxy to its distance d from an observer.</description> </term> <term data="Hubbleslaw.mp3" name="Hubbles law"> <description>The speed of a receding galaxy is proportional to its distance from the observer.</description> </term> <term data="Huygensconstruction.mp3" name="Huygens construction"> <description>An explanation for the way in which a circular wave spreads out that considers each point on a wavefront to be a source of a new set of disturbances. This eventually leads to a plane wave as the radius of the circular wave becomes very large.</description>

</term> <term data="hydrometer.mp3" name="hydrometer"> <description>A device with a weighted base and a tall stem used to determine the density of a fluid. The hydrometer floats in the fluid, and the density is read at the level of the fluid on the graduated stem.</description> </term> <term data="hypothesis.mp3" name="hypothesis"> <description>A proposal put forward to explain facts or observations that can be tested by further investigation.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="I"> <term data="idealgas.mp3" name="ideal gas"> <description>A gas that exactly obeys the gas laws.</description> </term> <term data="impulse.mp3" name="impulse"> <description>The product of force and the time for which it acts.</description> </term> <term data="inphase.mp3" name="in phase"> <description>When two oscillations are exactly in step.</description> </term> <term data="inquadrature.mp3" name="in quadrature"> <description>When two oscillations are out of phase by a quarter of a cycle.</description> </term> <term data="incoherent.mp3" name="incoherent"> <description>Waves are incoherent if the phase difference between them keeps changing.</description>

</term> <term data="independentvariable.mp3" name="independent variable"> <description>In an experiment, the variable that is chosen to be changed by the experimenter.</description> </term> <term data="inducedcurrent.mp3" name="induced current"> <description>The current induced in a conductor as a result of electromagnetic induction.</description> </term> <term data="inducedemf.mp3" name="induced emf"> <description>The emf induced in a conductor as a result of electromagnetic induction.</description> </term> <term data="inelastic.mp3" name="inelastic"> <description>For collisions, an inelastic collision is one in which kinetic energy is not conserved.</description> </term> <term data="inelasticcollision.mp3" name="inelastic collision"> <description>A collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved.</description> </term> <term data="infrared.mp3" name="infrared"> <description>Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, just beyond the red end of the spectrum.</description> </term> <term data="instantaneousspeed.mp3" name="instantaneous speed"> <description>The speed at which an object is travelling at a particular time.</description> </term>

<term data="insulator.mp3" name="insulator"> <description>A material that does not conduct electricity is an electrical insulator. A thermal insulator does not conduct heat.</description> </term> <term data="intensity.mp3" name="intensity"> <description>The rate at which energy crosses unit area. Also called energy flux.</description> </term> <term data="intercept.mp3" name="intercept"> <description>The point on the axis of a graph where a line drawn through the plotted points meets the axis.</description> </term> <term data="interference.mp3" name="interference"> <description>The interaction of two or more waves superimposed upon each other.</description> </term> <term data="internalenergy.mp3" name="internal energy"> <description>The total random distribution of kinetic and potential energy of a collection of particles.</description> </term> <term data="internalresistance.mp3" name="internal resistance"> <description>The resistance to the flow of charge within a source of emf.</description> </term> <term data="interstellarmaterial.mp3" name="interstellar material"> <description>Matter that exists in the space between stars.</description> </term> <term data="intrinsicsemiconductor.mp3" name="intrinsic semiconductor"> <description>Pure semiconductor in which the charge carriers arise from within the semiconductor and whose conductivity is not affected by external factors.</description>

</term> <term data="inversesquarelaw.mp3" name="inverse square law"> <description>A relationship in which one parameter is proportional to the inverse of the square of the other, for example the gravitational force between two objects (gravitational force is proportional to 1/distance, so when the distance doubles the force decreases by a factor of 4).</description> </term> <term data="ionisation.mp3" name="ionisation"> <description>When an electron is given enough energy to escape from the attraction of the nucleus.</description> </term> <term data="isochronous.mp3" name="isochronous"> <description>Oscillations are isochronous if the period is constant and independent of the amplitude of the oscillations</description> </term> <term data="isotope.mp3" name="isotope"> <description>Atoms with the same number of protons, but differing numbers of neutrons.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="J"> <term data="joule.mp3" name="joule"> <description>Unit of energy defined as the energy transferred when a force of 1 newton is displaced by a distance of 1 metre.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="K"> <term data="kineticenergy.mp3" name="kinetic energy"> <description>Energy due to motion. Kinetic energy of an object of mass m moving at speed v is given by KE=mv.</description>

</term> <term data="kinetictheory.mp3" name="kinetic theory"> <description>A theory explaining the properties of matter based on the idea that, at temperatures above absolute zero, molecules within matter are in motion. It infers that the internal energy of an object is derived from the motions and positions of its molecules.</description> </term> <term data="Kirchhoffsfirstlaw.mp3" name="Kirchhoffs first law"> <description>The total current into any point in a circuit is equal to the total current out of that point.</description> </term> <term data="Kirchhoffssecondlaw.mp3" name="Kirchhoffs second law"> <description>The sum of potential rises and falls around a closed path in a circuit is zero.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="L"> <term data="laminarflow.mp3" name="laminar flow"> <description>Smooth fluid flow in which layers have a constant velocity.</description> </term> <term data="law.mp3" name="law"> <description>A statement that explains observations of physical behaviour, based on repeated scientific observations and experiments over many years that have become accepted by other scientists.</description> </term> <term data="lawofreflection.mp3" name="law of reflection"> <description>The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.</description> </term>

<term data="Lenzslaw.mp3" name="Lenzs law"> <description>The direction of the current induced in a conductor by moving it in a magnetic field is such that its own field opposes the motion.</description> </term> <term data="lepton.mp3" name="lepton"> <description>Fundamental particle with a very small mass. The electron is one of the six types of lepton.</description> </term> <term data="leptonnumber.mp3" name="lepton number"> <description>The number of leptons, minus the number of antileptons, within a system.</description> </term> <term data="lightyear.mp3" name="light year"> <description>The distance travelled by light in one year.</description> </term> <term data="linespectra.mp3" name="line spectra"> <description>Characteristic colours (frequencies) of light given out by an element when its atoms are excited.</description> </term> <term data="linear.mp3" name="linear"> <description>Two quantities that are related by a linear relationship are proportional to each other. If the value of one quantity doubles, then so does the other.</description> </term> <term data="linearaccelerator.mp3" name="linear accelerator"> <description>A series of electrodes used to accelerate particles to very high speeds in a straight line in order to carry out particle physics experiments.</description> </term>

<term data="linesofforce.mp3" name="lines of force"> <description>Imaginary lines representing the influence of a field. Where the lines are close together the field is strong, and where they are farther apart the field is weaker. Also called field lines.</description> </term> <term data="liquidcrystal.mp3" name="liquid crystal"> <description>A liquid in which the molecules arrange themselves in some sort of ordered pattern.</description> </term> <term data="loglineargraph.mp3" name="log-linear graph"> <description>A graph in which one of the variables is plotted as its logarithm. This type of graph is useful when there is an exponential relationship between the variables.</description> </term> <term data="longitudinalwave.mp3" name="longitudinal wave"> <description>Wave motion in which the disturbance occurs in the same direction as the wave is travelling.</description> </term> <term data="luminosity.mp3" name="luminosity"> <description>The rate at which a source such as a star radiates energy.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="M"> <term data="magneticfield.mp3" name="magnetic field"> <description>The three-dimensional region of space in which a magnet has influence.</description> </term> <term data="magneticflux.mp3" name="magnetic flux"> <description>The amount of magnetic field within a loop or coil.</description>

</term> <term data="magneticfluxdensity.mp3" name="magnetic flux density"> <description>A measure of the strength of a magnetic field.</description> </term> <term data="magneticfluxlinkage.mp3" name="magnetic flux linkage"> <description>The magnetic flux through a coil with a number of turns. This is the product of the magnetic flux through the area of the loop of the coil and the number of turns of the coil.</description> </term> <term data="magneticpole.mp3" name="magnetic pole"> <description>The two ends of a magnet where the magnetic field lines converge are the magnetic poles, named north and south.</description> </term> <term data="magnitude.mp3" name="magnitude"> <description>Size. A scalar quantity has magnitude, but a vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.</description> </term> <term data="mainsequence.mp3" name="main sequence"> <description>The main group of stars on a HertzsprungRussell diagram. These are stars that are burning hydrogen. Our Sun is a main sequence star.</description> </term> <term data="malleable.mp3" name="malleable"> <description>Materials which show large plastic deformation before cracking or breaking are called malleable. Such materials can be hammered or rolled into flat sheets, for example gold.</description> </term> <term data="mass.mp3" name="mass"> <description>The amount of matter in an object. The unit is the kilogram (kg).</description> </term>

<term data="massdefect.mp3" name="mass defect"> <description>The difference between the mass of a nucleus and the mass of the individual, separate nucleons from which it is made. Also called mass deficit.</description> </term> <term data="massdeficit.mp3" name="mass deficit"> <description>The difference between the mass of a nucleus and the mass of the individual, separate nucleons from which it is made. Also called mass defect.</description> </term> <term data="massnumber.mp3" name="mass number"> <description>The mass of a chemical element, which is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.</description> </term> <term data="MaxwellBoltzmann.mp3" name="Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution"> <description>The velocities of molecules in a gas are distributed according to Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.</description> </term> <term data="meansquarespeed.mp3" name="mean square speed"> <description>The average (mean) of the squares of the speeds of the particles in a gas.</description> </term> <term data="mechanicalwaves.mp3" name="mechanical waves"> <description>Waves that require a medium through which to travel. Sound waves, water waves and seismic waves are all mechanical waves.</description> </term> <term data="medium.mp3" name="medium"> <description>The material through which a wave travels.</description> </term> <term data="meson.mp3" name="meson">

<description>Hadron made from two quarks bound together.</description> </term> <term data="metre.mp3" name="metre"> <description>SI base unit of length.</description> </term> <term data="metrespersecond.mp3" name="metres per second"> <description>Unit for speed or velocity.</description> </term> <term data="microwaves.mp3" name="microwaves"> <description>Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in the centimetre region.</description> </term> <term data="moderator.mp3" name="moderator"> <description>Material (usually water or graphite) used in a nuclear reactor to slow the high energy neutrons produced by nuclear fission to speeds at which they can be absorbed to take part in a further fission reaction.</description> </term> <term data="modulation.mp3" name="modulation"> <description>Adding of an information signal to a carrier wave.</description> </term> <term data="momentum.mp3" name="momentum"> <description>The product of mass and velocity. Momentum is a vector quantity.</description> </term> <term data="monochromatic.mp3" name="monochromatic"> <description>Light that is of a single frequency is monochromatic.</description> </term> <term data="monomode.mp3" name="monomode">

<description>An optical fibre on which the rays can only travel down the centre.</description> </term> <term data="monostable.mp3" name="monostable"> <description>A circuit that has one stable output state.</description> </term> <term data="motoreffect.mp3" name="motor effect"> <description>Name for the effect in which a wire with a current passing through it will experience a force when placed in a magnetic field. The movement produced by this force is harnessed in electric motors.</description> </term> <term data="multimode.mp3" name="multimode"> <description>Optical fibres in which the refractive index changes gradually across the fibre so it is greater in the centre than at the edges. Rays travelling in different parts of the fibre have different speeds, so the rays meet at the end without dispersion of the signal.</description> </term> <term data="multipathdispersion.mp3" name="multipath dispersion"> <description>The spreading out of a signal of light or infrared due to the different paths taken by individual rays as they travel through a medium (such as an optical fibre).</description> </term> <term data="multiplexer.mp3" name="multiplexer"> <description>The device that splits and assembles signals to be sent together down a cable as a multiplexed signal.</description> </term> <term data="multiplexing.mp3" name="multiplexing"> <description>When several signals are combined together, to be separated at the receiving end.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="N">

<term data="naturalfrequency.mp3" name="natural frequency"> <description>The frequency at which an object vibrates or oscillates most easily. If it is driven at this frequency the object will oscillate with a large amplitude.</description> </term> <term data="nebula.mp3" name="nebula"> <description>A cloud of gas or dust in interstellar space.</description> </term> <term data="negativefeedback.mp3" name="negative feedback"> <description>When a signal is used to reduce the output of a device.</description> </term> <term data="neutronnumber.mp3" name="neutron number"> <description>The number of neutrons within a particular atom.</description> </term> <term data="neutronstar.mp3" name="neutron star"> <description>A dense ball of neutrons that remains at the core of a star after a supernova explosion.</description> </term> <term data="newton.mp3" name="newton"> <description>The SI unit of force. The newton is a derived unit: 1 N=1 kg m s.</description> </term> <term data="NewtonsFirstLaw.mp3" name="Newtons First Law of Motion"> <description>An object remains at rest or continues moving along a straight line at constant velocity unless acted on by an external force.</description> </term>

<term data="NewtonsSecondLaw.mp3" name="Newtons Second Law of Motion"> <description>The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force on the object in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. F=ma</description> </term> <term data="NewtonsThirdLaw.mp3" name="Newtons Third Law of Motion"> <description>If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B exerts a force of the same size on body A, but in the opposite direction.</description> </term> <term data="node.mp3" name="node"> <description>Position along a standing wave at which there is no displacement.</description> </term> <term data="noise.mp3" name="noise"> <description>Unwanted electrical signals that can degrade a signal.</description> </term> <term data="nonohmic.mp3" name="non-ohmic"> <description>A conductor for which the current is not proportional to the voltage applied (it does not obey Ohms law). The graph of voltage against current is not a straight line.</description> </term> <term data="normalray.mp3" name="normal ray"> <description>The ray that meets a boundary at right angles. Angles of incidence, reflection and refraction are all measured from this normal ray.</description> </term> <term data="nucleon.mp3" name="nucleon"> <description>A particle found in an atomic nucleus, i.e. a neutron or a proton.</description> </term>

<term data="nucleonnumber.mp3" name="nucleon number"> <description>The number of nucleons in the nucleus of an atom, i.e. the number of neutrons and protons.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="O"> <term data="ohmicconductors.mp3" name="ohmic conductors"> <description>A conductor for which the current is proportional to the voltage applied (it obeys Ohms law). The graph of voltage against current is a straight line through the origin.</description> </term> <term data="opencircuitvoltage.mp3" name="open circuit voltage"> <description>The voltage of a power source when the circuit is not complete, so no current is flowing.</description> </term> <term data="openUniverse.mp3" name="open Universe"> <description>A model of the Universe in which gravity cannot halt the expansion of matter. The Universe will expand forever.</description> </term> <term data="operationalamplifier.mp3" name="operational amplifier"> <description>A type of digital to analogue converter</description> </term> <term data="oscillate.mp3" name="oscillate"> <description>To undertake continuous repeated movement.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="P"> <term data="pairproduction.mp3" name="pair production">

<description>The creation of an electronpositron pair from a gamma ray photon.</description> </term> <term data="parallax.mp3" name="parallax"> <description>The apparent shifting of the position of a star relative to the background of distant stars when observed from different positions in the Earth's orbit round the Sun.</description> </term> <term data="parallaxangle.mp3" name="parallax angle"> <description>Used in astronomy, the parallax angle of a star is half the apparent angle moved by the star against the distant background stars when seen from opposite sides of the Earths orbit.</description> </term> <term data="parallel.mp3" name="parallel"> <description>When components in an electrical circuit are connected so the current is split between the components. When connected in parallel the components will have the same potential difference across them.</description> </term> <term data="parallelogramrule.mp3" name="parallelogram rule"> <description>The resultant of two vectors can be found by drawing a parallelogram with the two vectors to be added as the sides. The diagonal of the parallelogram is the resultant.</description> </term> <term data="parsec.mp3" name="parsec"> <description>Distance that gives a parallax angle of 1 arc second.</description> </term> <term data="pathdifference.mp3" name="path difference"> <description>Difference in distance travelled by two waves at a point. Depending on their path difference, the waves may be in phase or out of phase, and so interfere constructively or destructively.</description> </term>

<term data="peerreview.mp3" name="peer review"> <description>Process by which research is scrutinised for accuracy and quality by others working in the field before it is published.</description> </term> <term data="period.mp3" name="period"> <description>In circular motion, the time taken to complete one orbit. When describing oscillations, the period is the time taken to complete one cycle.</description> </term> <term data="periodicoscillation.mp3" name="periodic oscillation"> <description>A motion that repeats itself over and over again, at regular intervals.</description> </term> <term data="permittivityofspace.mp3" name="permittivity of free space"> <description>A physics constant that describes how an electric field affects and is affected by the medium through which it acts.</description> </term> <term data="persistentcurrent.mp3" name="persistent current"> <description>Flow of charge in a superconductor that continues as long as the material is kept below the critical temperature at which it becomes superconducting.</description> </term> <term data="phase.mp3" name="phase"> <description>The stage an oscillation has reached in its cycle.</description> </term> <term data="phasedifference.mp3" name="phase difference"> <description>The phase difference between two oscillations is the fraction of a cycle that their peaks and troughs are out of step.</description> </term> <term data="photoelectriceffect.mp3" name="photoelectric effect">

<description>The emission of electrons from the surface of a metal when a beam of light of sufficient energy is shone on the metal.</description> </term> <term data="photoelectron.mp3" name="photoelectron"> <description>Electron emitted from the surface of a metal as a result of interaction between light and the electrons in the metal.</description> </term> <term data="photomultipliertube.mp3" name="photomultiplier tube"> <description>A device in which a single incident photon produces a pulse of current in an external circuit. This type of tube can be used in an image intensifying camera.</description> </term> <term data="photon.mp3" name="photon"> <description>A particle of electromagnetic radiation.</description> </term> <term data="pions.mp3" name="pions"> <description>Pions are the lightest of the meson family of fundamental particles and are often produced in particle physics experiments.</description> </term> <term data="Plancksconstant.mp3" name="Plancks constant"> <description>The constant h relating the energy E of a photon to its frequency f. E=hf.</description> </term> <term data="planepolarised.mp3" name="plane polarised"> <description>Transverse waves that oscillate in one plane only are said to be plane polarised.</description> </term> <term data="planewaves.mp3" name="plane waves"> <description>Waves in which the wavefronts form a series of parallel straight lines.</description>

</term> <term data="planetarynebula.mp3" name="planetary nebula"> <description>The hot gases and dust ejected from a low-mass star as it evolves into a white dwarf.</description> </term> <term data="plasma.mp3" name="plasma"> <description>An ionised gas.</description> </term> <term data="plasticcollision.mp3" name="plastic collision"> <description>A collision in which there is a net loss of kinetic energy.</description> </term> <term data="plasticdeformation.mp3" name="plastic deformation"> <description>Permanent deformation of a material that has been loaded beyond its elastic limit.</description> </term> <term data="plumpuddingmodel.mp3" name="plum pudding model"> <description>A model of the atom, proposed by Thomson, in which the atom is composed of a nebulous positively charged material with electrons scattered randomly though it.</description> </term> <term data="polar.mp3" name="polar"> <description>A polar molecule has a neutral charge overall, but the charge is not evenly distributed, so one end is slightly negative and the other end slightly positive.</description> </term> <term data="polarisation.mp3" name="polarisation"> <description>Phenomenon only exhibited by transverse waves in which the oscillations (which are at right angles to the direction of propagation) can be restricted to one plane.</description> </term>

<term data="positron.mp3" name="positron"> <description>The antimatter version of the electron.</description> </term> <term data="potential.mp3" name="potential"> <description>The potential at a point in an electric field is the work done per unit positive charge moving from infinity to that point.</description> </term> <term data="potentialdifference.mp3" name="potential difference"> <description>The difference in electrical potential between two points in a circuit, measured in volts (V). It is a measure of the work done by the current.</description> </term> <term data="potentialdivider.mp3" name="potential divider"> <description>A device that allows a desired fraction of potential difference to be taken.</description> </term> <term data="potentiometer.mp3" name="potentiometer"> <description>Another name for a potential divider.</description> </term> <term data="powerdissipation.mp3" name="power dissipation"> <description>The rate at which energy is transferred to an element in a circuit.</description> </term> <term data="powerlawrelationship.mp3" name="power-law relationship"> <description>A relationship where one variable is directly proportional to the other variable raised to a power, or exponent.</description> </term> <term data="pressure.mp3" name="pressure"> <description>Force per unit area. The unit of pressure is the pascal, Pa, or N

m.</description> </term> <term data="pressurelaw.mp3" name="pressure law"> <description>At constant volume, the pressure of a fixed mass of an ideal gas is proportional to its temperature (on the Kelvin scale).</description> </term> <term data="primarycoil.mp3" name="primary coil"> <description>In a transformer, the primary coil is the coil of wire which carries the input current, which induces an emf in a second coil known as the secondary coil.</description> </term> <term data="primarysource.mp3" name="primary source"> <description>A report of original findings or ideas, for example a research article.</description> </term> <term data="principleofconservation.mp3" name="principle of conservation of energy"> <description>Energy cannot be created or destroyed.</description> </term> <term data="principleConsLinearMom.mp3" name="principle of conservation of linear momentum"> <description>The total momentum of a system remains constant provided no external forces act on the system. This applies to all objects moving in a straight line.</description> </term> <term data="principleofsuperposition.mp3" name="principle of superposition"> <description>Where two or more waves meet, the total displacement at any point is the sum of the displacements that each individual wave would cause at that point.</description> </term> <term data="progressivewave.mp3" name="progressive wave">

<description>A wave that travels, transferring energy as it moves.</description> </term> <term data="projectile.mp3" name="projectile"> <description>An object given an initial velocity that then moves under a constant force, for example the force of gravity.</description> </term> <term data="propagation.mp3" name="propagation"> <description>The movement of a wave through a medium.</description> </term> <term data="protonnumber.mp3" name="proton number"> <description>The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; the same as atomic number.</description> </term> <term data="protostar.mp3" name="protostar"> <description>The total momentum of a system remains constant provided no external forces act on the system. This applies to all objects moving in a straight line.</description> </term> <term data="pulsar.mp3" name="pulsar"> <description>A rotating neutron star that emits energy in the form of radio waves at regular intervals.</description> </term> <term data="pulse.mp3" name="pulse"> <description>A very short wave motion that does not have any repeated patterns.</description> </term> <term data="pulsecodemodulation.mp3" name="pulse code modulation"> <description>A process by which a continuously varying voltage signal is represented as a series of numbers.</description> </term>

</letter> <letter id="Q"> <term data="quality.mp3" name="quality"> <description>The particular nature of a musical sound, which is the result of the frequencies present in the sound and their relative amplitudes.</description> </term> <term data="quantisation.mp3" name="quantisation"> <description>Splitting a signal into a number of discrete levels known as quantum levels.</description> </term> <term data="quantised.mp3" name="quantised"> <description>A signal that has been split into discrete levels so it does not vary continuously.</description> </term> <term data="quantumlevel.mp3" name="quantum level"> <description>A discrete level. The electrons in an atom exist in discrete energy levels called quantum levels.</description> </term> <term data="quantummechanics.mp3" name="quantum mechanics"> <description>Laws of physics that apply to particles on the atomic and subatomic scale, where the laws of large-scale physics do not apply.</description> </term> <term data="quark.mp3" name="quark"> <description>The fundamental particles from which protons, neutrons (and some other particles) are made. There are six types of quark.</description> </term> </letter>

<letter id="R"> <term data="radian.mp3" name="radian"> <description>A measure of angle. The angle in radians is defined as the distance travelled in an arc along the circumference of a circle divided by the radius of the circle. There are 2p radians in a full circle.</description> </term> <term data="radiationflux.mp3" name="radiation flux"> <description>A measure of the amount of energy landing on a unit area in a unit time.</description> </term> <term data="radiowaves.mp3" name="radio waves"> <description>Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths ranging from centimetres to several kilometres.</description> </term> <term data="radioactivedecay.mp3" name="radioactive decay"> <description>Process by which an unstable nucleus changes spontaneously to a more stable one, through emission of ionising radiation.</description> </term> <term data="range.mp3" name="range"> <description>The horizontal displacement of a projectile when it reaches the ground once more.</description> </term> <term data="rarefaction.mp3" name="rarefaction"> <description>The part of a longitudinal wave where the pressure is least.</description> </term> <term data="rateofchangeofvelocity.mp3" name="rate of change of velocity with time"> <description>The definition of acceleration. Given by (final velocity - initial velocity) time taken for change.</description>

</term> <term data="rays.mp3" name="rays"> <description>Straight lines drawn to show the direction of travel of a wavefront. The rays are perpendicular to the wavefronts.</description> </term> <term data="reactionequation.mp3" name="reaction equation"> <description>Equation representing the interaction of subatomic particles to form new particles.</description> </term> <term data="reddwarf.mp3" name="red dwarf"> <description>One of the end stages in the life cycle of a low-mass star. A white dwarf loses energy and as it cools becomes a red dwarf.</description> </term> <term data="redgiant.mp3" name="red giant"> <description>A giant star with a relatively low surface temperature, so that it glows with a red colour.</description> </term> <term data="redshift.mp3" name="red shift"> <description>In cosmology, the shifting of the entire spectrum of a receding source to longer wavelengths.</description> </term> <term data="reflection.mp3" name="reflection"> <description>Bouncing back of a wave as it arrives at a barrier.</description> </term> <term data="refraction.mp3" name="refraction"> <description>Change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.</description> </term> <term data="refractiveindex.mp3" name="refractive index">

<description>The constant in Snells law that relates the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for light at the boundary between two different media. The higher the refractive index the more a ray is bent as it passes from air into the medium.</description> </term> <term data="relativemotion.mp3" name="relative motion"> <description>The motion of one object in relation to another.</description> </term> <term data="resistivity.mp3" name="resistivity"> <description>A measure of the electrical resistance of a material for a given size and shape: r =RA/l (unit m).</description> </term> <term data="resonance.mp3" name="resonance"> <description>When an object is driven at its natural frequency so that it oscillates with a large amplitude.</description> </term> <term data="restmass.mp3" name="rest mass"> <description>The mass of a particle when it is not moving.</description> </term> <term data="restmassenergy.mp3" name="rest-mass energy"> <description>The energy that would be released if the entire rest mass of a particle were to dematerialise. This is also the energy that would be needed to create the particle from nothing. This comes from Einsteins equation E=mc.</description> </term> <term data="restoringforce.mp3" name="restoring force"> <description>The force acting towards the central point of the oscillation for an object moving with simple harmonic motion.</description> </term> <term data="resultant.mp3" name="resultant"> <description>The result of combining two or more vectors, for example

forces.</description> </term> <term data="resultantforce.mp3" name="resultant force"> <description>The total force on an object that results from the combination of the forces acting on it.</description> </term> <term data="rootmeansquarespeed.mp3" name="root-mean-square speed"> <description>Used when looking at the behaviour of gas particles. This is an average speed that is directly related to the pressure exerted by the particles in a gas.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="S"> <term data="scalar.mp3" name="scalar"> <description>A quantity that has a magnitude or size, but no direction. Mass is a scalar quantity.</description> </term> <term data="secondarycoil.mp3" name="secondary coil"> <description>In a transformer, the secondary coil is the coil of wire in which an emf is induced when a current is passed through the primary coil.</description> </term> <term data="secondarysource.mp3" name="secondary source"> <description>Comments or criticisms written about a primary source. A secondary source does not provide original data, but analyses the results of previously published primary research.</description> </term> <term data="seismicwaves.mp3" name="seismic waves"> <description>Waves in the Earth caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.</description> </term>

<term data="semiconductor.mp3" name="semiconductor"> <description>A material that has a resistivity between those of conductors and insulators. Silicon and germanium are semiconductors</description> </term> <term data="series.mp3" name="series"> <description>When components in an electrical circuit are connected so the current passes through one and then the other.</description> </term> <term data="shearmodulus.mp3" name="shear modulus"> <description>The ratio of shear stress to shear strain. Shear modulus is a measure of the resistance of a material to shear deformation.</description> </term> <term data="shearstress.mp3" name="shear stress"> <description>A stress in which the top and bottom of a material are pushed in opposite horizontal directions.</description> </term> <term data="shortcircuit.mp3" name="short circuit"> <description>A low-resistance connection between two parts of a circuit.</description> </term> <term data="simpleharmonicmotion.mp3" name="simple harmonic motion"> <description>A type of harmonic motion in which the frequency is independent of the amplitude and the force that causes the motion is directed towards the central point of the motion.</description> </term> <term data="Snellslaw.mp3" name="Snells law"> <description>Law relating the angle of incidence to the angle of refraction for light at the boundary between two different media: sin i/sin r=constant.</description> </term> <term data="specialrelativity.mp3" name="special relativity">

<description>When objects are travelling at speeds close to the speed of light the equations of special relativity are needed to explain their motion.</description> </term> <term data="spectrometry.mp3" name="spectrometry"> <description>The study of spectra, used to determine the composition of materials. Spectra from distant galaxies can be used to determine their age and distance.</description> </term> <term data="spectrum.mp3" name="spectrum"> <description>The range of frequencies emitted by a radiating object.</description> </term> <term data="speed.mp3" name="speed"> <description>Rate of change of position. Speed = s/t.</description> </term> <term data="springconstant.mp3" name="spring constant"> <description>For a spring that obeys Hookes law, the constant k relates the extension of the spring x to the force F applied to it: F=-kx.</description> </term> <term data="standardcandle.mp3" name="standard candle"> <description>A star whose luminosity can be determined separately from other measurements. By measuring the energy flux of these stars, their distance from Earth can be determined.</description> </term> <term data="standardmodelparticle.mp3" name="standard model of particle physics"> <description>The current theory, which identifies 12 fundamental particles from which all matter is made.</description> </term> <term data="standingwave.mp3" name="standing wave">

<description>A wave that does not travel in any direction, but remains where it is with constant nodes and antinodes. Also called a stationary wave.</description> </term> <term data="statics.mp3" name="statics"> <description>The study of forces on objects that are not moving.</description> </term> <term data="stationarywave.mp3" name="stationary wave"> <description>A wave that does not travel in any direction, but remains where it is with constant nodes and antinodes. Also called a standing wave.</description> </term> <term data="StefanBoltzmannlaw.mp3" name="Stefan-Boltzmann law"> <description>Law stating that the total power output from a black body is proportional to its surface area and the fourth power of its temperature in kelvin.</description> </term> <term data="stepdowntransformer.mp3" name="step-down transformer"> <description>Transformer that has an output voltage lower than the input voltage.</description> </term> <term data="steppedindex.mp3" name="stepped index"> <description>Optical fibre in which the core is surrounded by cladding that has a refractive index slightly less than the core. This reduces dispersion of the signal.</description> </term> <term data="stepuptransformer.mp3" name="step-up transformer"> <description>Transformer that has an output voltage higher than the input voltage.</description> </term> <term data="stiffness.mp3" name="stiffness"> <description>A measure of the resistance of a material to deformation by a tensile (pulling or stretching) force.</description>

</term> <term data="stimulates.mp3" name="stimulates"> <description>When emission of a photon from a transition within an atom triggers the emission of another photon of the same energy, we say that the photon stimulates the emission. Such stimulated emission results in an intense, coherent beam of light (the laser).</description> </term> <term data="stoppingpotential.mp3" name="stopping potential"> <description>For photoelectrons, the value of the stopping potential (the potential difference that just stops all emitted electrons) allows the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons to be calculated.</description> </term> <term data="strangeness.mp3" name="strangeness"> <description>The strangeness of a system in particle physics is given by the number of strange antiquarks minus the number of strange quarks.</description> </term> <term data="streamlines.mp3" name="streamlines"> <description>Lines of laminar fluid flow. At any point on a streamline the velocity of the fluid will be constant over time.</description> </term> <term data="strength.mp3" name="strength"> <description>The ability of a material to withstand stress.</description> </term> <term data="strongnuclearforce.mp3" name="strong nuclear force"> <description>The force which binds nucleons together in the nucleus.</description> </term> <term data="superconductor.mp3" name="superconductor"> <description>Material with zero resistivity, so that there is no resistance to the flow of charge.</description>

</term> <term data="supergiant.mp3" name="supergiant"> <description>A massive, hot star formed when a star of mass at least five times that of the Sun has used up its hydrogen and starts to burn helium.</description> </term> <term data="supernova.mp3" name="supernova"> <description>The explosion that occurs when a massive star uses up its fuel and collapses. Depending on the size of the star, the remains may become a neutron star or a black hole.</description> </term> <term data="supernovaremnant.mp3" name="supernova remnant"> <description>The rapidly expanding cloud of very hot gases blown out when a massive star explodes in a supernova.</description> </term> <term data="superposition.mp3" name="superposition"> <description>The combination of two or more waves. At any point the resultant displacement is equal to the sum of the displacements of the individual waves at that point.</description> </term> <term data="symmetry.mp3" name="symmetry"> <description>Property of the Gell-Mann model of elementary particles that predicted a particle that was later found.</description> </term> <term data="synchrotron.mp3" name="synchrotron"> <description>A particle accelerator, based on the cyclotron design, which uses an accelerating potential with varying frequency to account for relativistic effects associated with high-energy particles.</description> </term> <term data="SystemeInternational.mp3" name="Systeme International"> <description>The standard system of units used in most countries of the world. The SI system was developed to help scientists and engineers exchange ideas and

data with colleagues more easily.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="T"> <term data="tensilestrain.mp3" name="tensile strain"> <description>The extension per unit length of a material subjected to a tensile (pulling or stretching) force.</description> </term> <term data="tensilestrength.mp3" name="tensile strength"> <description>The maximum force per unit area that can be applied to a material before it is pulled apart (also called the breaking stress).</description> </term> <term data="tensilestress.mp3" name="tensile stress"> <description>The tensile (pulling or stretching) force per unit area.</description> </term> <term data="terminalpotential.mp3" name="terminal potential difference"> <description>The potential difference across the terminals of a source.</description> </term> <term data="terminalvelocity.mp3" name="terminal velocity"> <description>Constant velocity of a falling object in which the force of gravity downward is balanced by the drag force.</description> </term> <term data="tesla.mp3" name="tesla"> <description>The SI unit for magnetic field strength, T.</description> </term> <term data="theory.mp3" name="theory">

<description>An explanation or model of the way matter behaves that can be tested through experiment, and which is capable of predicting future behaviour.</description> </term> <term data="thermalneutron.mp3" name="thermal neutron"> <description>A slow-moving (low energy) neutron.</description> </term> <term data="thermionicemission.mp3" name="thermionic emission"> <description>Process in which electrons are emitted from a heated filament.</description> </term> <term data="thermistor.mp3" name="thermistor"> <description>Electronic component that indicates temperature by the value of its resistance.</description> </term> <term data="thresholdfrequency.mp3" name="threshold frequency"> <description>The minimum frequency of light that will release a photoelectron from the surface of a metal.</description> </term> <term data="timbre.mp3" name="timbre"> <description>The quality of a musical sound. This depends on the harmonics present in the sound and is a characteristic of the instrument making the sound.</description> </term> <term data="timeconstant.mp3" name="time constant"> <description>A measure of how long it takes for a resistorcapacitor combination to discharge.</description> </term> <term data="timemultiplexing.mp3" name="time division multiplexing"> <description>A method of multiplexing in which input data is sampled and sliced up into sections of equal time duration. Sections are then assembled in order,

one after the other, for transmission. They are extracted and reassembled at the receiving end.</description> </term> <term data="timeperiod.mp3" name="time period"> <description>The time taken for an oscillating system to complete one cycle.</description> </term> <term data="torque.mp3" name="torque"> <description>The turning effect of a force.</description> </term> <term data="totalEnergyHarmonics.mp3" name="total energy of a simple harmonic oscillator"> <description>The combined kinetic and potential energy for an oscillator undergoing simple harmonic motion.</description> </term> <term data="totalinternalreflection.mp3" name="total internal reflection"> <description>When all the light incident at the boundary between a denser and a less dense medium is reflected back into the denser medium.</description> </term> <term data="tough.mp3" name="tough"> <description>Tough materials are able to withstand impact forces without breaking and require a large force to produce a small plastic deformation.</description> </term> <term data="transformer.mp3" name="transformer"> <description>A device consisting of two electrically insulated coils wound on a common iron core that converts electricity at one ac voltage to another.</description> </term> <term data="transient.mp3" name="transient"> <description>Only remaining for a short time. This can apply to oscillations or

to electric or magnetic fields.</description> </term> <term data="transmitted.mp3" name="transmitted"> <description>Energy that is transferred with a wave across a boundary is transmitted.</description> </term> <term data="transportequation.mp3" name="transport equation"> <description>Equation used to calculate the speed at which charge carriers travel through a wire: I=nAvq (where I is the current, n the number of free charge carriers, A is the cross-sectional area of the wire, v is the velocity of the charge carriers and q is the charge on each charge carrier).</description> </term> <term data="transversewave.mp3" name="transverse wave"> <description>Wave motion in which the disturbance occurs at right angles to the direction in which the wave is travelling.</description> </term> <term data="trigonometricparallax.mp3" name="trigonometric parallax"> <description>The apparent displacement of an object when viewed along two different lines of sight, measured as a difference in angle.</description> </term> <term data="turbulentflow.mp3" name="turbulent flow"> <description>Irregular, chaotic fluid flow in which eddies form. The fluid velocity is not constant over time.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="U"> <term data="ultrasound.mp3" name="ultrasound"> <description>Sound waves with frequencies above the threshold of human hearing (frequencies > 20 000 Hz).</description> </term>

<term data="ultraviolet.mp3" name="ultraviolet"> <description>Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than the visible region, just beyond the violet end of the spectrum.</description> </term> <term data="uncertainty.mp3" name="uncertainty"> <description>Measure of the possible error in a measurement.</description> </term> <term data="universalgravitation.mp3" name="universal gravitation"> <description>The concept that there is an attractive force of gravity between all masses in the Universe.</description> </term> <term data="unpolarised.mp3" name="unpolarised"> <description>Transverse waves that oscillate in all planes.</description> </term> <term data="upthrust.mp3" name="upthrust"> <description>The upward force exerted on an object immersed in a fluid, equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="V"> <term data="vector.mp3" name="vector"> <description>A quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Velocity is a vector quantity.</description> </term> <term data="viscosity.mp3" name="viscosity"> <description>A measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow. Viscosity is due to frictional forces between the molecules of the fluid.</description> </term>

<term data="viscousdrag.mp3" name="viscous drag"> <description>The friction force acting to oppose motion through a fluid.</description> </term> <term data="volt.mp3" name="volt"> <description>The unit for emf and pd. A cell is said to have an emf of 1 volt when it supplies 1 joule of energy to each coulomb of charge flowing through it: 1 V=1 J C.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="W"> <term data="watt.mp3" name="watt"> <description>Unit of power, which is the rate of use of energy: 1 W=1 J s.</description> </term> <term data="wave.mp3" name="wave"> <description>A periodic motion or disturbance that carries energy away from its source.</description> </term> <term data="wavetrain.mp3" name="wave train"> <description>A wave that has a beginning and an end.</description> </term> <term data="wavefront.mp3" name="wavefront"> <description>On a diagram the crests of a wave are represented by lines known as wavefronts.</description> </term> <term data="wavelength.mp3" name="wavelength"> <description>The distance between two points on a wave that are in phase, such

as between two crests or two troughs.</description> </term> <term data="waveparticleduality.mp3" name="wave-particle duality"> <description>Theory which suggests that any particle can also exhibit wave-like properties.</description> </term> <term data="wavicle.mp3" name="wavicle"> <description>A waveparticle object which behaves sometimes like a classical wave and at other times like a classical particle.</description> </term> <term data="weak.mp3" name="weak"> <description>A weak material has a low tensile strength.</description> </term> <term data="weaknuclearforce.mp3" name="weak nuclear force"> <description>One of the four fundamental forces. The weak nuclear force is responsible for beta decay and is due to the exchange of W and Z bosons.</description> </term> <term data="weber.mp3" name="weber"> <description>The SI unit for quantity of magnetic flux.</description> </term> <term data="weberturns.mp3" name="weber-turns"> <description>The SI unit for magnetic flux linkage.</description> </term> <term data="weight.mp3" name="weight"> <description>The force of gravity on an object. Weight is the product of mass m and gravitational field strength g: W=mg</description> </term> <term data="whitedwarf.mp3" name="white dwarf">

<description>The very hot remnant of a low-mass star.</description> </term> <term data="Wienslaw.mp3" name="Wiens law"> <description>The law which describes the relationship between the peak output wavelength and the temperature of a star.</description> </term> <term data="work.mp3" name="work"> <description>Work is done when a force is used to transfer energy to an object. Work done=force x distance moved in direction of force</description> </term> <term data="workfunction.mp3" name="work function"> <description>In the photoelectric effect, the energy required to remove an electron completely from the surface of a metal.</description> </term> <term data="working.mp3" name="working"> <description>One of the ways in which energy can be transferred. Work is done when a force is used to transfer energy to an object.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="X"> <term data="Xrays.mp3" name="X-rays"> <description>Short-wavelength, high-energy electromagnetic radiation. X-rays can be used to probe beneath the surface of materials (such as in medical X-rays) and in cancer therapy. X-rays are used in X-ray diffraction to identify the composition of materials.</description> </term> </letter> <letter id="Y"/> <letter id="Z"/> </glossary>

</root>