Glossary
Effortlessly navigate the QCAA Physics Glossary to find and understand key terms and concepts
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A
ATAR
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
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Absolute Measurement Uncertainty
A mathematical indication of how accurate the measurements were with respect to the accepted value of a quantity is percentage error (%): \[ \% = \frac{| \text{measured value} - \text{true value} |}{\text{true value}} \times 100 \] (Taylor, 1982)
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Absolute Uncertainty Of The Mean
\[ \Delta \bar{x} = \pm (\bar{x}_{\text{max}} - \bar{x}_{\text{min}}) \]
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Acceleration
The rate at which an object's velocity changes (symbol \( a \); SI unit \(\mathrm{m/s}^2\)) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Accomplished
Highly trained or skilled in a particular activity; perfected in knowledge or training; expert
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Accuracy
The condition or quality of being true, correct or exact; freedom from error or defect; precision or exactness; correctness; in science, the extent to which a measurement result represents the quantity it purports to measure; an accurate measurement result includes an estimate of the true value and an estimate of the uncertainty
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Accurate
Precise and exact; to the point; consistent with or exactly conforming to a truth, standard, rule, model, convention or known facts; free from error or defect; meticulous; correct in all details
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Acknowledgment
The recognition of the authority or recognition of something
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Adept
Very/highly skilled or proficient at something; expert
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Adequate
Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity equal to the requirement or occasion
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Algebraic Representation
A set of symbols linked by mathematical operations; the set of symbols summarises relationships between variables (ACARA 2015c)
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Alpha Radiation
The composite particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons tightly bounded together, emitted from the nucleus of some radionuclides (symbol, \(\alpha\) or \(^4_2He\)) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Amplitude
The distance from the rest position of a wave (equilibrium position) to the crest position, which is half the vertical distance from a trough to a crest (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Analyse
Dissect to ascertain and examine constituent parts and/or their relationships; break down or examine in order to identify the essential elements, features, components or structure; determine the logic and reasonableness of information; examine or consider something in order to explain and interpret it, for the purpose of finding meaning or relationships and identifying patterns, similarities and differences
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Analysis
Examination of evidence to identify the essential features, components, elements or structure; identification of patterns, similarities and differences
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Analytical Technique
A procedure or method for analysing data
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Anomaly
Something that deviates from what is standard, normal or expected (Taylor 1982)
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Antinode
The midway point between each pair of nodes where there is maximum amplitude of vibration (Tipler & Mosca 2003)
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Antiparticle
A particle with the same mass and opposite charge and/or spin to a corresponding particle, for example positron and electron (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Applied Learning
The acquisition and application of knowledge, understanding and skills in real-world or lifelike contexts that may encompass workplace, industry and community situations; it emphasises learning through doing and includes both theory and the application of theory, connecting subject knowledge and understanding with the development of practical skills
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Applied Subject
A subject whose primary pathway is work and vocational education; it emphasises applied learning and community connections;
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Apply
Use knowledge and understanding in response to a given situation or circumstance; carry out or use a procedure in a given or particular situation
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Appraise
Evaluate the worth, significance or status of something; judge or consider a text or piece of work
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Appreciate
Recognise or make a judgment about the value or worth of something; understand fully; grasp the full implications of
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Appropriate
Acceptable; suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, circumstance, context, etc.
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Apt
Suitable to the purpose or occasion; fitting, appropriate
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Area of Study
A division of, or a section within a unit
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Argue
Give reasons for or against something; challenge or debate an issue or idea; persuade, prove or try to prove by giving reasons
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Argument
Process of reasoning; series of reasons; a statement or fact tending to support a point
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Artificial Transmutation
The process in which an isotope is intentionally caused to change by nuclear processes into an isotope of another element (distinct from natural radioactivity) (e.g., neutron bombardment of \(_{92}^{235}\)U)
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Aspect
A particular part of a feature of something; a facet, phase or part of a whole
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Assess
Measure, determine, evaluate, estimate or make a judgment about the value, quality, outcomes, results, size, significance, nature or extent of something
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Assessment
Purposeful and systematic collection of information about students' achievements
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Assessment Instrument
A tool or device used to gather information about student achievement
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Assessment Objectives
Drawn from the unit objectives and contextualised for the requirements of the assessment instrument (see also 'syllabus objectives', 'unit objectives')
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Assessment Technique
The method used to gather evidence about student achievement (e.g. examination, project, investigation)
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Astute
Showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people; of keen discernment
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Atomic Number
The number of protons in an element's nucleus, Z; in a neutral atom, the number of protons will be equal to the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Authoritative
Able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable; commanding and self-confident; likely to be respected and obeyed
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Average Speed
The rate of change of distance calculated by the formula average speed = \(\frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}\) (Tipler & Mosca, 2003; Giancoli, 2008)
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B
Balanced
Keeping or showing a balance; not biased; fairly judged or presented; taking everything into account in a fair, well-judged way
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Balanced
Keeping or showing a balance; not biased; fairly judged or presented; taking everything into account in a fair, well-judged way
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Baryon Number
A strictly conserved additive quantum number of a system defined by \( B = \frac{1}{3}(n_q - n_{\bar{q}}) \), where \( n_q \) is the number of quarks and \( n_{\bar{q}} \) is the number of antiquarks (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Baryons
Composite subatomic particles made up of three quarks (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Basic
Fundamental
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Behaviour
In science, the action of any material; the action or activity of an individual
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Beta Negative Radiation
A type of radioactive decay in which an energetic electron ( \( -e \)) and associated antineutrino (\( \bar{\nu}_e \)) are emitted from an atomic nucleus (symbol \( \beta^- \)) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Beta Positive Radiation
A type of radioactive decay in which an energetic positron (\(e^+\)) and associated neutrino (\(\nu_e\)) are emitted from an atomic nucleus (symbol \( \beta^+ \)) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Binding Energy
The mechanical work that must be done against the forces holding a nucleus together to disassemble it into component parts (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Binding Energy Per Nucleon
The binding energy divided by the number of nucleons in the nucleus of an atom (Tipler & Mosca 2003; Giancoli 2008)
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Black-Body Radiation
The radiation emitted by a black body from the conversion of thermal energy; a black body is a perfect absorber or emitter of radiation (Tipler & Mosca 2003; Giancoli 2008)
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C
Calculate
Determine or find (e.g. a number, answer) by using mathematical processes; obtain a numerical answer showing the relevant stages in the working; ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information
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Categorise
Place in or assign to a particular class or group; arrange or order by classes or categories; classify, sort out, sort, separate
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Centripetal Acceleration
The acceleration experienced by any object moving in a circular path directed towards the centre of motion (symbol, \(a_c\); SI unit is \(m/s^2\)) (Tipler & Mosca 2003; Giancoli 2008)
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Centripetal Force
The force acting on an object travelling in a circle that constantly either pulls or pushes the object in towards the centre of motion (symbol, \(F_{net}\); SI unit is N) (Tipler & Mosca 2003; Giancoli 2008)
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Challenging
Difficult but interesting; testing one's abilities; demanding and thought-provoking; usually involving unfamiliar or less familiar elements
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Change in Velocity
Found by vector subtraction of the initial velocity from the final velocity (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Characteristic
A typical feature or quality
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Claim
An assertion made without any accompanying evidence to support it
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Clarify
Make clear or intelligible; explain; make a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible
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Clarity
Clearness of thought or expression; the quality of being coherent and intelligible; free from obscurity of sense; without ambiguity; explicit; easy to perceive, understand or interpret
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Classify
Arrange, distribute or order in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics
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Clear
Free from confusion, uncertainty, or doubt; easily seen, heard or understood
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Clearly
In a clear manner; plainly and openly, without ambiguity
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Coherent
Having a natural or due agreement of parts; connected; consistent; logical, orderly; well-structured and makes sense; rational, with parts that are harmonious; having an internally consistent relation of parts
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Coherent
Having a natural or due agreement of parts; connected; consistent; logical, orderly; well-structured and makes sense; rational, with parts that are harmonious; having an internally consistent relation of parts.
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Cohesive
Characterised by being united, bound together or having integrated meaning; forming a united whole.
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Collate
To put together; to compare.
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Collection
In science, a systematic approach to gathering and measuring evidence from a variety of sources in order to evaluate outcomes and make predictions.
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Comment
Express an opinion, observation or reaction in speech or writing; give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a calculation.
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Communicate
Convey knowledge and/or understandings to others; make known; transmit.
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Compare
Display recognition of similarities and differences and recognise the significance of these similarities and differences.
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Competent
Having suitable or sufficient skills, knowledge, experience, etc. for some purpose; adequate but not exceptional; capable; suitable or sufficient for the purpose. Having the necessary ability, knowledge or skill to do something successfully; efficient and capable (of a person); acceptable and satisfactory, though not outstanding.
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Competently
In an efficient and capable way; in an acceptable and satisfactory, though not outstanding, way.
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Complex
Composed or consisting of many different and interconnected parts or factors; compound; composite; characterised by an involved combination of parts; complicated; intricate; a complex whole or system; a complicated assembly of particulars.
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Comprehend
Understand the meaning or nature of; grasp mentally.
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Comprehensive
Inclusive; of large content or scope; including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something; wide-ranging; detailed and thorough, including all that is relevant.
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Compression
A region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together (Tipler & Mosca 2003; Giancoli 2008).
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Concept
Scientific concepts are an idea or model explaining some natural phenomenon; an theoretical construct; a thought, idea or notion.
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Concise
Expressing much in few words; giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief, comprehensive and to the point; succinct, clear, without repetition of information.
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Concisely
In a way that is brief but comprehensive; expressing much in few words; clearly and succinctly.
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Conclusion
A judgment based on evidence (ACARA 2015c).
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Conduct
Direct in action or course; manage; organise; carry out.
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Conduction
The process by which heat or electricity is directly transferred or transmitted through the material of a substance when there is a difference of temperature or of electrical potential between adjoining regions, without movement of the material (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008).
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Consider
Think deliberately or carefully about something, typically before making a decision; take something into account when making a judgment; view attentively or scrutinise; reflect on.
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Considerable
Fairly large or great; thought about deliberately and with a purpose.
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Considered
Formed after careful and deliberate thought.
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Consistent
Agreeing or accordant; compatible; not self-opposed or self-contradictory, constantly adhering to the same principles; acting in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate; unchanging in nature, standard, or effect over time; not containing any logical contradictions (of an argument); constant in achievement or effect over a period of time.
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Construct
Create or put together (e.g., an argument) by arranging ideas or items; display information in a diagrammatic or logical form; make; build.
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Constructive Interference
The interference of two or more waves of the same, or almost the same, frequency and in phase with each other, superposing to produce an observable pattern in intensity (Tipler & Mosca 2003).
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Contrast
Display recognition of differences by deliberate juxtaposition of contrary elements; show how things are different or opposite; give an account of the differences between two or more items or situations, referring to both or all of them throughout.
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Controlled
Shows the exercise of restraint or direction over; held in check; restrained, managed or kept within certain bounds.
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Convection
The movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008).
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Convincing
Persuaded by argument or proof; leaving no margin of doubt; clear; capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real; persuading or assuring by argument or evidence; appearing worthy of belief; credible or plausible.
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Correct
Conforming to fact or truth; accurate.
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Coulomb's Law
A law stating that like electric charges repel and opposite electric charges attract, with a force proportional to the product of the electric charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them, expressed by the formula \( F = \frac{k \cdot q_1 \cdot q_2}{r^2} \) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008).
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Course
A defined amount of learning developed from a subject syllabus.
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Create
Bring something into being or existence; produce or evolve from one
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Creative
Resulting from originality of thought or expression; relating to or involving the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something; having good imagination or original ideas.
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Credible
Capable or worthy of being believed; believable; convincing.
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Crest
The highest part or point of a wave (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Criterion
The property or characteristic by which something is judged or appraised.
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Critical
Involving skilful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.; involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment; expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art; incorporating a detailed and scholarly analysis and commentary (of a text); rationally appraising for logical consistency and merit.
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Critique
Review (e.g. a theory, practice, performance) in a detailed, analytical and critical way.
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Cursory
Hasty, and therefore not thorough or detailed; performed with little attention to detail; going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial.
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D
Data
In science, measurements of an attribute or attributes; data may be quantitative or qualitative and be from primary or secondary sources (ACARA 2015c).
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Dataset
Qualitative data and/or quantitative data (e.g. diagram, graph, image, map, photograph, table) derived from a practical, activity or case study.
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Decide
Reach a resolution as a result of consideration; make a choice from a number of alternatives.
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Deduce
Reach a conclusion that is necessarily true, provided a given set of assumptions is true; arrive at, reach or draw a logical conclusion from reasoning and the information given.
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Defensible
Justifiable by argument; capable of being defended in argument.
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Define
Give the meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity; state meaning and identify or describe qualities.
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Demonstrate
Prove or make clear by argument, reasoning or evidence, illustrating with practical example; show by example; give a practical exhibition.
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Derive
Arrive at by reasoning; manipulate a mathematical relationship to give a new equation or relationship; in mathematics, obtain the derivative of a function.
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Describe
Give an account (written or spoken) of a situation, event, pattern or process, or of the characteristics or features of something.
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Design
Produce a plan, simulation, model or similar; plan, form or conceive in the mind; in English, select, organise and use particular elements in the process of text construction for particular purposes; these elements may be linguistic (words), visual (images), audio (sounds), gestural (body language), spatial (arrangement on the page or screen) and multimodal (a combination of more than one).
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Destructive Interference
The interference of two or more waves of the same, or almost the same frequency and 180° out of phase with each other, superposing to produce a resultant wave with reduced amplitude (Tipler & Mosca 2003).
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Detailed
Executed with great attention to the fine points; meticulous; including many of the parts or facts.
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Determine
Establish, conclude or ascertain after consideration, observation, investigation or calculation; decide or come to a resolution.
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Develop
Elaborate, expand or enlarge in detail; add detail and fullness to; cause to become more complex or intricate.
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Devise
Think out; plan; contrive; invent.
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Differentiate
Identify the difference/s in or between two or more things; distinguish, discriminate; recognise or ascertain what makes something distinct from similar things; in mathematics, obtain the derivative of a function.
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Diffraction
A phenomenon in which waves either bend behind a barrier or the wavefront is broken up into many small sources (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008).
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Discerning
Discriminating; showing intellectual perception; showing good judgment; making thoughtful and astute choices; selected for value or relevance.
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Discriminate
Note, observe or recognise a difference; make or constitute a distinction in or between; differentiate; note or distinguish as different.
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Discriminating
Differentiating; distinctive; perceiving differences or distinctions with nicety; possessing discrimination; perceptive and judicious; making judgments about quality; having or showing refined taste or good judgment.
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Discuss
Examine by argument; sift the considerations for and against; debate; talk or write about a topic, including a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses; consider, taking into account different issues and ideas, points for and/or against, and supporting opinions or conclusions with evidence.
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Disjointed
Disconnected; incoherent; lacking a coherent order/sequence or connection
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Dispersion
Observed as the splitting of white light into a rainbow, dispersion is the phenomenon in which the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency; this is due to the dependence of the index of refraction on the wavelength of light (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Displacement
A vector quantity representing the location of the destination relative to the origin of motion only, irrespective of the path actually taken between the two points (symbol, \(\vec{s}\); SI unit, m) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Distance
The total length of the pathway taken between the origin and the destination point (symbol, \(d\); SI unit, m) (Tipler & Mosca 2003, Giancoli 2008)
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Distinguish
Recognise as distinct or different; note points of difference between; discriminate; discern; make clear a difference/s between two or more concepts or items
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