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Glossary
Chapter 1: Energy
- Overview
- 1.1 Energy stores and transfers
- 1.2 Conservation, dissipation and energy resources
- Review
Chapter 2: Forces and their interactions
- Overview
- 2.1 Forces and their interactions
- 2.2 Forces and elasticity
- 2.3 Work done and energy transfer
- 2.4 Pressure and pressure differences in fluids
- 2.5 Moments, levers and gears
- Review
Chapter 3: Forces and motion
- Overview
- 3.1 Speed, velocity and motion graphs
- 3.2 Forces, acceleration and Newton's laws of motion
- 3.3 Safety in public transport
- 3.4 Momentum
- Review
Chapter 4: Waves in matter
- Overview
- 4.1 Waves in air, fluids and solids
- 4.2 Sound waves and waves for detection and exploration
- 4.3 Waves at material interfaces
- Review
Chapter 5: Light and electromagnetic waves
- Overview
- 5.1 The electromagnetic spectrum
- 5.2 Interactions of electromagnetic radiation with matter
- 5.3 Lenses and ray diagrams
- 5.4 Colour and frequency
- 5.5 Black body radiation
- Review
Chapter 6: Electricity
- Overview
- 6.1 Current, potential difference and resistance
- 6.2 Series and parallel circuits
- 6.3 Domestic uses and safety
- 6.4 Energy transfers and the national grid
- 6.5 Static electricity and electric fields
- Review
Chapter 7: Magnetism and electromagnetism
- Overview
- 7.1 Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields
- 7.2 Magnetic effects of currents and the motor effect
- 7.3 Induced potential, transformers and the national grid
- 7.4 Microphones and speakers
- Review
Chapter 8: Particle model of matter
- Overview
- 8.1 Changes of state and the particle model
- 8.2 Internal energy, energy transfers and particle motions
- 8.3 Particle model and pressure
- Review
Chapter 9: Atomic structure
- Overview
- 9.1 Nuclear atom and isotopes
- 9.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation
- 9.3 Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and background radiation
- 9.4 Nuclear fission and fusion
- Review
Chapter 10: Space physics
- Overview
- 10.1 The solar system and orbits
- 10.2 Red-shift and the Big Bang
- Review
About this book

Glossary — Particle model of matter

Change of state — a physical change from one state of matter to another, such as melting, freezing, boiling, evaporating, condensing or sublimating. The mass is conserved, and the material gets back its original properties if the change is reversed.

Internal energy — the total kinetic energy and the total potential energy of all the particles in a system. Heating a system increases its internal energy.

Latent heat — the energy needed to change the state of a substance. It does not change the temperature of the substance.

Particle model — a model that describes matter as tiny particles, and explains the properties of solids, liquids and gases from the arrangement and motion of those particles.

Specific latent heat — the energy needed to change the state of one kilogram of a substance, with no change in temperature. It is measured in joules per kilogram. The specific latent heat of fusion is the value for a change from solid to liquid; the specific latent heat of vaporisation is the value for a change from liquid to vapour.