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GCSE EdExcel P1 Keywords
Keywords for the UK EdExcel GCSE P1 module
169
Science
12th Grade
05/08/2013

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Term
Orbits
Definition
The curved path an object follows around another object in space.
Term
Geocentric
Definition
Earth at the centre.
Term
Heliocentric
Definition
The Sun at the centre.
Term
Telescope
Definition
A device used to study space.
Term
Naked eye
Definition
The body part that can be used to look into the night sky.
Term
Visible light
Definition
The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see.
Term
Light waves
Definition
The name given to waves in the EM spectrum that we can see.
Term
Radio waves
Definition
The name given to waves in the EM spectrum that have the longest wavelength.
Term
Microwaves
Definition
The waves in the EM spectrum that can be used for heating water and sending signals.
Term
Refraction
Definition
The name given to light changing speed and direction between two materials.
Term
Interface
Definition
The point where two things interact or meet.
Term
Normal
Definition
The imaginary line at right angles to a surface.
Term
Lens
Definition
An object that refracts light in a way that makes it diverge or converge.
Term
Converging Lens
Definition
A lens which focuses light inwards onto a point. Also called convex.
Term
Convex Lens
Definition
A lens which focuses light inwards onto a point. Also called converging.
Term
Converge
Definition
When rays of light come together towards a point.
Term
Focal length
Definition
The distance between lens and focussed image.
Term
Image
Definition
The visable reproduction of an object, e.g. by a lens.
Term
Refracting telescope
Definition
A telescope which uses lenses and not mirrors.
Term
Objective lens
Definition
A lens which magnifies the image.
Term
Eyepiece lens
Definition
The lens found in the place you look into on a telescope.
Term
Magnify
Definition
To enlarge an image.
Term
Magnified
Definition
Made bigger by a lens.
Term
Real image
Definition
An image which can be projected onto a screen.
Term
Virtual image
Definition
An image which appears to exist if you look through a lens but you cannot project.
Term
Reflected
Definition
"Bounced" off a surface.
Term
Magnifications
Definition
Enlargements.
Term
Reflecting telescope
Definition
A telescope that uses a curved mirror and lens.
Term
Primary mirror
Definition
The curved mirror in a telescope that light first reflects off.
Term
Transfer
Definition
Move from place to place.
Term
Transverse waves
Definition
Waves where the movement is at right angles to the direction of travel.
Term
Electromagnetic waves
Definition
"Light waves" found anywhere in the EM spectrum.
Term
Sound waves
Definition
Waves generated by noise.
Term
Longitudinal waves
Definition
Waves where the movement is along the direction of travel.
Term
Seismic waves
Definition
Waves created by earthquakes.
Term
Frequency
Definition
How many waves pass per second.
Term
Hertz (Hz)
Definition
The unit for frequency meaning once per second.
Term
Wavelength
Definition
The length of a wave.
Term
Amplitude
Definition
The "height" of a wave or how much it is displaced.
Term
Wave speed
Definition
The speed of the wave.
Term
Infrared
Definition
The region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is produced by all objects with heat.
Term
Infrared radiation (IR)
Definition
The region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is produced by all objects with heat.
Term
Ultraviolet
Definition
The region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is next to violet but can't be seen.
Term
Ultraviolet radiation (UV)
Definition
The region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is next to violet but can't be seen.
Term
Electromagnetic radiation
Definition
Any emitted part of the EM spectrum.
Term
Vacuum
Definition
A space with no particles in it.
Term
X-rays
Definition
The region of the spectrum used to take medical images of bones.
Term
Gamma rays
Definition
The region of the spectrum that kills cells and can be very harmful.
Term
Electromagnetic spectrum
Definition
The spectrum of light - visible and not visible.
Term
Negative powers
Definition
A power in maths that has a negative value.
Term
DNA
Definition
An acid which makes up a code that gives us our genetics.
Term
Skin cancer
Definition
An illness caused by mutations in skin cells.
Term
Mutations
Definition
When the DNA of a cell is altered.
Term
Illuminated
Definition
Lit up.
Term
Fluorescence
Definition
Giving off light.
Term
Fluorescent lamps
Definition
A lamp that gives off light.
Term
Thermal imaging
Definition
Making an image based on the heat given off by something.
Term
Optical fibre
Definition
A glass strand that can allow light to pass through it.
Term
Radiotherapy
Definition
Treating someone with radiation.
Term
Ionising radiation
Definition
Radiation that can cause particles to gain a charge by losing electrons or an electron.
Term
Ions
Definition
A particle with a charge (due to an unbalanced number of electrons).
Term
Radioactive
Definition
Something which gives off ionising radiation.
Term
Alpha (α) particles
Definition
Helium nuclei (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
Term
Beta (β) particles
Definition
High speed electrons.
Term
Stars
Definition
Balls of gas in space that emit light due to the nuclear reactions within them.
Term
Nebulae
Definition
Huge clouds of gas in space.
Term
Milky Way
Definition
The galaxy in which we live.
Term
Solar System
Definition
A collection of stars and planets in orbit of each other.
Term
Galaxy
Definition
A collection of millions of stars that are close together and possibly orbit a black hole.
Term
Universe
Definition
Everything that exists.
Term
Spectrum
Definition
In terms of light this means all of the groups of light. It can mean a rainbow.
Term
Spectrometer
Definition
Something that measures a spectrum, looking for dark lines in it.
Term
Visible light
Definition
The light which we can see.
Term
Landers
Definition
Something which goes to another planet.
Term
Space probes
Definition
Something which we send into space looking for things.
Term
Rovers
Definition
Something which moves around on another planet.
Term
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
Definition
A project that searches for intelligent life in space.
Term
Dense
Definition
Tightly packed.
Term
Protostar
Definition
The beginnings of a new star.
Term
Nuclei
Definition
The centres of things (including atoms).
Term
Fusion reactions
Definition
A reaction where hydrogen become helium and releases energy (like in stars).
Term
Main sequence
Definition
The normal life cycle a star follows.
Term
Red giant
Definition
A main sequence star that is getting older and bigger.
Term
White dwarf
Definition
The remnants of a dead main sequence star.
Term
Red supergiants
Definition
A larger star that is getting older and bigger.
Term
Supernova
Definition
A huge explosion from a dying star.
Term
Black hole
Definition
A dead star creating so much gravitational pull that even light is pulled in.
Term
Neutron star
Definition
A dead star that is very dense.
Term
Red-shift
Definition
When light looks more red because of a stretched wave length.
Term
Big Bang theory
Definition
The idea that the Universe quickly expanded from a point in space and no new matter is created.
Term
Steady State theory
Definition
The idea that the Universe has always existed but gets bigger with new matter being made.
Term
Cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation
Definition
Radiation found evenly spread throughout the Universe.
Term
Pitch
Definition
Effectively means frequency.
Term
Doppler Effect
Definition
The effect heard when an ambulance comes towards you then moves away.
Term
Sound wave
Definition
A wave caused by noise.
Term
Frequency
Definition
How many waves pass in a second.
Term
Medium
Definition
A material through which something passes.
Term
Infrasound
Definition
Low frequency sound (below 20Hz).
Term
Ultrasound
Definition
High frequency sound (above 20,000Hz).
Term
Sonar
Definition
A system used to see how deep water is (or look for objects in water).
Term
Ultrasound scan
Definition
A scan using high frequency sound waves.
Term
Earthquakes
Definition
A tremor resulting from movement in the Earth's crust.
Term
Seismic waves
Definition
A wave which travels through the Earth.
Term
Seismometers
Definition
A device used to measure the size of waves travelling through the Earth.
Term
Focus
Definition
The point where a seismic wave began.
Term
Epicentre
Definition
The point at the surface directly above the focal point of an earthquake.
Term
P waves
Definition
Longitudinal (and faster) seismic waves.
Term
S waves
Definition
Transverse (and slower) seismic waves.
Term
Crust
Definition
The outer layer of the Earth made up of rock.
Term
Mantle
Definition
The layer below the Earth's crust made of molten magma.
Term
Core
Definition
The centre of the Earth.
Term
Refracted
Definition
Waves that have changed speed and direction at the boundary between two materials.
Term
Tectonic plates
Definition
The large area of the Earth's crust that move slowly.
Term
Convection currents
Definition
The way in which heat "moves" in the mantle, rising and falling.
Term
Tsunami
Definition
Water waves caused by movement in the Earth's crust.
Term
Electricity
Definition
The flow of charge/electrons, often in a wire.
Term
Current
Definition
The flow of charge/electrons.
Term
Voltage
Definition
The "pressure" in a circuit, sometimes called the potential difference.
Term
Renewable energy resources
Definition
Energy that comes from a source that is continually replenished (isn't running out).
Term
Solar cells
Definition
A cell that produces electrical current when sunlight is absorbed by it.
Term
Solar energy
Definition
Energy that comes from sunlight.
Term
Hydroelectricity
Definition
Electricity produced by water turbines in dams of reservoirs.
Term
Wind turbines
Definition
Turbines that are turned by the wind (like windmills).
Term
Geothermal energy
Definition
Energy from hot rocks beneath the Earth's surface.
Term
Tidal power
Definition
Energy from the rising and falling tide.
Term
Wave power
Definition
Energy from waves.
Term
Non-renewable resources
Definition
Energy resources from sources that cannot be replenished (can run out).
Term
Fossil fuels
Definition
Fuels from fossilised plants and animals (coal, oil and natural gas).
Term
Nuclear power
Definition
Energy from nuclear materials like uranium.
Term
Climate change
Definition
The change to the temperature and weather of the Earth.
Term
Acid rain
Definition
Rain with a lower pH.
Term
Decommissioned
Definition
Not used any more and shut down/disused.
Term
Magnetic field
Definition
A field caused by a magnet with a north and south.
Term
Electromagnetic induction
Definition
The creation of electrical current by moving a magnet along/around a wire.
Term
Induced current
Definition
Current created by a magnetic field being moved along a wire (like in a dynamo).
Term
Dynamos
Definition
A device which used movement (kinetic energy) to create electricity.
Term
Direct current (DC)
Definition
Current which flows in one direction only.
Term
Generator
Definition
A device which produces electricity.
Term
Slip rings
Definition
Connection rings found on a dynamo.
Term
Carbon brushes
Definition
Connectors used to maintain a good contact with the dynamo as it spins.
Term
Alternating current (AC)
Definition
Current which flows "back and forth" or in different directions.
Term
Electromagnets
Definition
A magnet created using an electrical current.
Term
National Grid
Definition
The wires and transformers that supply electricity around the country.
Term
Efficiency
Definition
How much energy is transferred usefully compared to how much is wasted.
Term
Transformer
Definition
A device which changes the voltage of AC current.
Term
Step-up transformer
Definition
A device which increases the voltage of AC current.
Term
Step-down transformer
Definition
A device which decreases the voltage of AC current.
Term
Primary coil
Definition
The coil of wire carrying electrical current entering a transformer.
Term
Secondary coil
Definition
The coil of wire carrying electrical current leaving a transformer.
Term
Joule (J)
Definition
The measurement of energy.
Term
Power
Definition
The rate (speed) at which energy is transferred.
Term
Watt (W)
Definition
The unit for power, also meaning joules per second.
Term
Kilowatts (kW)
Definition
A thousand watts (1000W).
Term
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Definition
A measurement of electricity use in a home meaning 1000W being transferred in an hour.
Term
Unit
Definition
The measurement of electricity use in a home.
Term
Payback time
Definition
The time it takes for the savings of a new device to cover the cost of buying it.
Term
Cost-efficient
Definition
Pays for itself with the savings it makes.
Term
Thermal
Definition
Heat energy.
Term
Light
Definition
The form of energy we see.
Term
Electrical
Definition
Energy which is the flow of electrons.
Term
Kinetic
Definition
Movement energy.
Term
Sound
Definition
Energy we hear.
Term
Chemical potential
Definition
Energy potential in chemicals.
Term
Nuclear potential
Definition
Energy potential in radioactive materials.
Term
Elastic potential
Definition
Energy potential in something elasticated.
Term
Gravitational potential
Definition
Energy potential as you move up through gravity or higher.
Term
Energy transfer
Definition
The change of energy from one for to another.
Term
System
Definition
Connected processes that make up a bigger whole.
Term
Law of conservation of energy
Definition
The law that energy is never lost.
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