Definitions and Concepts for OCR (A) Physics GCSE
Topic 1: Matter
Definitions in bold are for higher tier only
Definitions marked by ‘*’ are for separate sciences only
*Atmosphere: The thin layer of air surrounding the Earth, which gets less dense with
increasing altitude. The pressure also decreases with increasing altitude.
Bohr Model: A model of the atom that suggested that negative electrons orbit a positive
nucleus at set distances. It is the currently accepted model.
Change in Thermal Energy: The product of the mass, specific heat capacity and
temperature change of a substance.
Chemical Changes: Changes to the chemical structure of a substance. The substance does
not usually restore its original properties when the changes are reversed.
Condensation: The changing from vapour state to a liquid state, when a substance is
cooled.
Density: The mass per unit volume of an object.
Electrons: A negatively charged constituent of the atom, that are found in different energy
levels, around the nucleus.
Evaporation: The changing from liquid state to a vapour state, when a substance is heated.
*Floating: An object will float if the volume of liquid it displaces has a greater weight
than that of the object itself. The upthrust acting on the object is greater than its
weight.
Fluid: A liquid or gas.
Freezing: The changing from a liquid state to a solid state, when a substance is cooled.
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Gas: A state of matter in which the particles are spread apart and have high kinetic energies.
Any intermolecular forces acting between the particles are very weak.
Latent Heat: The energy required for a substance to change state.
Liquid: A state of matter in which the particles are in contact, but can flow over each other.
Intermolecular forces act between the particles.
Melting: The changing from solid state to liquid state, when a substance is heated.
Neutrons: A neutrally charged constituent of the nucleus.
Nucleus: The positively charged centre of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.
Pascals: The unit of pressure, equal to a force of one Newton acting perpendicular to an
area of one metre squared.
Physical Changes: Changes to the physical properties of a substance which can be
reversed. Changes of state are physical changes since substances can restore their original
properties when the changes are reversed.
*Pressure in a Liquid Column: Equal to the product of the height of the column, the
density of the liquid and the gravitational field strength.
*Pressure of a Gas: The perpendicular force per unit area acting on the surfaces of a
container as a result of the gas particles colliding with it.
Pressure: The force acting perpendicular to a surface, per unit area.
Protons: A positively charged constituent of the nucleus.
Rutherford Model: A model of the atom that represented the atom as being mostly empty
space, with a dense positive centre and negative charges scattered around it.
*Sinking: An object will sink if the volume of liquid it displaces has a lower weight than
that of the object itself. The upthrust acting on the object is lower than its weight and
so there is a resultant downwards force.
Solid: A state of matter in which the particles are tightly packed together and can only vibrate
about their fixed positions. Strong intermolecular forces act between the particles
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Specific Heat Capacity: The amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of one
kilogram of a given substance by one degree Celsius.
Specific Latent Heat of Fusion: The amount of energy needed to change the state of one
kilogram of a substance from solid state to liquid state, whilst held at constant temperature.
Specific Latent Heat of Vaporisation: The amount of energy needed to change the state of
one kilogram of a substance from liquid state to vapour state, whilst held at constant
temperature.
Specific Latent Heat: The amount of energy needed to change the state of one kilogram of
a substance, whilst held at constant temperature.
Sublimation: The direct changing of a substance from a solid state to a vapour state, without
passing through the liquid phase.
Temperature: A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. An
increase in temperature will result in an increase in the particles’ kinetic energies and
velocities.
Thomson Model: A rejected model of the atom that represented the atom as a ball of
positive charge, with negative charges distributed throughout it. It is sometimes referred to as
the plum-pudding model.
*Upthrust: The upward force acting on an object in a fluid, due to it experiencing a
greater pressure below it than above it. It is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced
by the object.
Weight: The force acting on an object due to gravity. It is equal to the product of the object’s
mass and the gravitational field strength at its location.
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