Newton’s law of gravitation: Newton’s law of gravitation states that two point masses attract each

other with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and is inversely proportional to
the square of the their separation

Gravitational field: Gravitational field is the region of space where a mass experiences a gravitational
force

Gravitational field strength: Gravitational field strength at a point is the force per unit mass acting
on a small test mass placed at that point

Gravitational potential: Gravitational potential at a point is the work done per unit mass by an
external agent in moving a small test mass from infinity to that point without a change in kinetic
energy

Gravitational potential energy: Gravitational potential energy at a point is the work done by an
external agent in moving a small test mass from infinity to that point

Temperature: Temperature is a measure of the mean kinetic energy of particles in the gas

Thermal equilibrium: Two bodies in thermal contact as said to be in thermal equilibrium when there
is no net flow of heat from one body to another. It also implies that the two bodies are at the same
temperature

One kelvin: One kelvin is defined to be 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple
point of water

Ideal gas: An ideal gas is one that obeys the equation pV = nRT, at all pressures, volumes and
temperatures

Heat capacity: Heat capacity of a body is defined as the quantity of heat absorbed or liberated by the
body per unit temperature change

Specific heat capacity: Specific heat capacity of a material is defined as the quantity of heat absorbed
or liberated per unit mass of the material per unit temperature change

Specific latent heat of fusion of a substance is defined as the quantity of heat energy required to
convert per unit mass of solid to liquid without a change in temperature

Specific latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is the quantity of heat energy required to convert
per unit mass of liquid to vapour without a change in temperature

Internal energy of a system is the sum of random distribution of kinetic and potential energies
associated with the molecules of a system

First law of thermodynamics: First law of thermodynamics states that an increase in internal energy
is equal to the sum of the heat supplied to the system and the work done on the system
Simple harmonic motion: Simple harmonic motion is an oscillatory motion of a particle whose
acceleration is directly proportional to its displacement from the equilibrium position and is always
directed towards that position

Damped oscillation: Damped oscillation is an oscillation that loses energy due to dissipative forces
like friction and air resistance

Light damping: Light damping is when dissipative forces is of a small value so that definite oscillation
still occur but the amplitude of oscillation decreases exponentially with time

Critical damping: Critical damping is where dissipating forces is of a critical value so that the system
returns to its equilibrium position in the shortest time possible without oscillation

Heavy damping: Heavy damping is when dissipative forces is of a large value so that the system
returns very slowly to its equilibrium position without oscillation

Natural frequency: Natural frequency is the characteristic frequency at which a system oscillates
when it is set into motion

Driving frequency: Driving frequency of an external periodic force that replenishes the energy in an
oscillating system

Force oscillation: Forced oscillation occurs when the oscillating system is subjected to an external
periodic force such that the system oscillates at the driving frequency of the applied force

Resonance: Resonance when the driving frequency of the external periodic force is equals to the
natural frequency of the oscillating system. There is maximum energy transfer and the system
oscillates as maximum amplitude

Transverse wave: Transverse wave are waves in which the oscillation of particles of the medium is
perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

Longitudinal wave: Longitudinal wave are waves in which the oscillation of particles of the medium
is parallel to the direction of energy transfer

Intensity: Intensity of wave is defined as the rate of energy flow per unit area perpendicular to the
direction of energy transfer

Polarization: A wave is plane polarized when all oscillations are limited to the same plane
perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

Principle of superposition: The principle of superposition states that when two waves of the same
nature interact, their resultant displacement at any point at any time is given by the vector sum of
the individual displacement of each wave at that point at that time

Diffraction: Diffraction refers to the spreading of waves around an obstacle or through a gap, into its
geometric shadow

Rayleigh criterion: Rayleigh criterion states that for two objects to the just resolved, the central
maxima of one source needs to be directly above the first minima of the second source.
Electric field: An electric field is a region of space in which a small test charge experiences a electric
force

Electric field strength: Electric field strength is the electric force per unit positive charge placed in the
electric field.

Electric potential: Electric potential at a point is defined as the work done per unit positive charge
by an external agent in bringing a small test charge from infinity to that point in the electric field
without a change in kinetic energy

Electric potential energy: Electric potential energy is defined as the work done by an external agent
in bringing a small test charge from infinity to that point

Current of electricity: Current is the rate of flow of charge

Coulomb: The coulomb is defined as the charge which passes a section of a circuit when a steady
current of one ampere flows for one second

Electromotive force (emf): Electromotive force is the energy converted from other forms of energy
into electrical energy per unit charge in driving a charge round a complete circuit.

Potential difference: Potential energy across a conductor / between 2 points in a circuit is defined as
the amount of electrical energy converted into other forms of energy per unit charge passing
through it/across 2 points

(Electrical) Resistance: Resistance of a conductor is defined as the ratio of potential difference

across the conductor to the current flowing through the conductor

Resistivity: Resistivity is the resistance of a conductor of unit cross-sectional area and unit length

Magnetic flux: Magnetic flux is defined as the product of an area and the component of magnetic
flux density perpendicular to the area.

Magnetic flux linkage: Magnetic flux linkage is defined as the product of the number of turns of the
coil and the magnetic flux linking each turn

Faraday’s law: Faraday’s law states that the magnitude of induced emf is directly proportional to the
rate of change of magnetic flux linkage

Lenz’s law: Lenz’s law states that the direction of induced current is such that it produces an effect
which opposed the change that causes it

Root-mean-square current: Root-mean-square current in an alternating current is defined as the

value of the steady direct current that would dissipate heat at the same rate as the alternating
current in a given resistor