IB Physics Topic 4 Definitions

This page contains our IB Physics definitions for topic 4. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Physics 'Fields'.
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AC generator

It is a device that produces an alternating current

Alternating current

It is current that constantly switches direction

Conductor

It is a material that allows the flow of charge

Current

It is the rate of flow of charge

Diamagnetic

It is temporary alignment of paired electrons by a magnetic field

Direct current

It is current that flows in one direction

Electric field

It is the force per unit positive point test charge

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Electric potential difference

It is the work done moving a test point charge per unit test point charge

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Electric potential energy

It is the work done in moving a charge from any point in space to infinity

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Electric potential gradient

It is the average electric field strength over a specified distance

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Electromotive force

The total energy difference per unit charge, or rate of change of flux

Electronvolt

It is the energy gained by an electron moving 1 V

Electrostatic force

It is the force between two electrically charged objects

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Equipotential

It is the line of zero potential difference where no work is done moving an object

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Escape speed

It is the speed required to travel from the surface of a mass to infinity to overcome the gravitational field strength

Ferromagnetic

It is permanent parallel alignment of unpaired electrons

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Flux density

It is the flux per area, or magnetic field strength

Flux line

It is the field line of a magnetic field

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Forward-bias

It is the forward flow of current due to negligible resistance in a diode

Fux density

It is the distance between field lines of a magnetic field

Gravitational field

It is the force per unit test point mass

Gravitational field strength

It is the force per unit mass experienced by a small point mass at a point in the field

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Gravitational potential

It is the energy per unit test point mass

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Gravitational potential difference

It is the work done moving a test point mass per unit test point mass

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Gravitational potential energy

It is the work done in moving a mass from infinity to any point in space

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Gravitational potential gradient

It is the average gravitational field strength over a specified distance

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Ideal diode

It is a device that allows current to flow in the forward direction due to negligible resistance, but not the backward direction due to infinite resistance

Insulator

It is a material that does not allow the flow of charge

Motor effect

This is the event of inducing an electromotive force

Neutral

It is the presence of equal amounts of positive and negative charge

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Non-ideal transformer

It is a transformer that has internal power losses

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Orbital velocity

It is the velocity required to overcome the gravitational force and travel in an orbit around the mass

Paramagnetic

It is temporary alignment of unpaired electrons by a magnetic field

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Potential

It is the energy per unit test point due to the field

Potential difference

It is the energy difference or work done per unit charge moved between two points

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Rectification

It is the conversion of AC to DC

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Reverse bias

It is the inhibition of reverse flow due to infinite resistance in a diode

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Root mean square current

It is the sub-maximum current from a AC generator

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Root mean square voltage

It is the sub-maximum voltage from a AC generator

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Smoothing

It is the conversion of a pulsating DC to a stable potential difference

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Step-down transformer

It is a transformer that decreases the output voltage

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Step-up transformer

It is a transformer that increases the input voltage

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Total flux linkage

It is the amount of flux passing through all turns of a coil

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Transformer

It is a device that takes an alternating voltage input and produces an alternating voltage output via electromagnetic fields

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