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'.
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
Electric potential difference
It is the work done moving a test point charge per unit test point charge
Electric potential energy
It is the work done in moving a charge from any point in space to infinity
Electric potential gradient
It is the average electric field strength over a specified distance
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
Equipotential
It is the line of zero potential difference where no work is done moving an object
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
Flux density
It is the flux per area, or magnetic field strength
Flux line
It is the field line of a magnetic field
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
Gravitational potential
It is the energy per unit test point mass
Gravitational potential difference
It is the work done moving a test point mass per unit test point mass
Gravitational potential energy
It is the work done in moving a mass from infinity to any point in space
Gravitational potential gradient
It is the average gravitational field strength over a specified distance
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
Non-ideal transformer
It is a transformer that has internal power losses
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
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
Rectification
It is the conversion of AC to DC
Reverse bias
It is the inhibition of reverse flow due to infinite resistance in a diode
Root mean square current
It is the sub-maximum current from a AC generator
Root mean square voltage
It is the sub-maximum voltage from a AC generator
Smoothing
It is the conversion of a pulsating DC to a stable potential difference
Step-down transformer
It is a transformer that decreases the output voltage
Step-up transformer
It is a transformer that increases the input voltage
Total flux linkage
It is the amount of flux passing through all turns of a coil
Transformer
It is a device that takes an alternating voltage input and produces an alternating voltage output via electromagnetic fields
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