AQA · GCSE · 8463
Physics — Keywords & Key Terms — Definitions Glossary (2026)
AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — Specification (2026)
Topic-by-topic keywords, key terms and definitions for precise exam language—separate from our revision checklists (topic coverage) and formula sheets (equations).
Keywords & Key Terms — definitions
Examiner-style keywords and definitions organised by syllabus topic. Terms are tagged Essential (start here), Core (typical exam standard), and Advanced for harder distinctions — tick each row when you can recall it. Your progress is saved in this browser for this list.
AQA GCSE Physics (8463)
AQA GCSE Physics (8463)
AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — Specification (2026)
Topics match the AQA GCSE Physics specification headings (energy; electricity; particle model of matter; atomic structure; forces; waves; magnetism & electromagnetism; space).
Mark schemes: AQA mark schemes reward precise scientific terms, correct units, and clear cause→effect links (e.g., “increases, therefore…”). Use full terms (not vague ‘it’) and include required quantities/units when defining.
Active recall: 0 / 52 terms ticked
| Recalled | Topic | Level | Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Essential | Energy | The capacity to do work or cause change; measured in joules (J). | |
| Energy | Essential | Work done | Energy transferred when a force causes a displacement: work done = force × distance moved in the direction of the force. | |
| Energy | Core | Efficiency | Useful output energy (or power) ÷ total input energy (or power), often expressed as a percentage. | |
| Energy | Core | Power | The rate of energy transfer (or work done) per second; measured in watts (W). | |
| Energy | Core | Specific heat capacity | Energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C (or 1 K). | |
| Energy | Advanced | Thermal conductivity | A measure of how quickly thermal energy is transferred through a material by conduction. | |
| Energy | Advanced | Energy conservation | In a closed system, total energy remains constant; energy is transferred/stored, not created or destroyed. | |
| Electricity | Essential | Charge | A property of matter that can be positive or negative; measured in coulombs (C). | |
| Electricity | Essential | Current | Rate of flow of electric charge: current = charge ÷ time; measured in amperes (A). | |
| Electricity | Core | Potential difference (voltage) | Energy transferred per unit charge between two points: potential difference = energy ÷ charge; measured in volts (V). | |
| Electricity | Core | Resistance | A measure of how much a component opposes current: resistance = potential difference ÷ current; measured in ohms (Ω). | |
| Electricity | Core | Series circuit | A circuit with one loop; current is the same through all components; potential differences add to the supply. | |
| Electricity | Core | Parallel circuit | A circuit with branches; potential difference is the same across each branch; currents in branches add to the total. | |
| Electricity | Advanced | Ohmic conductor | A component where current is directly proportional to potential difference (constant resistance) at constant temperature. | |
| Electricity | Advanced | LDR (light-dependent resistor) | A resistor whose resistance decreases as light intensity increases. | |
| Particle model of matter | Essential | Density | Mass per unit volume: density = mass ÷ volume; measured in kg/m³. | |
| Particle model of matter | Core | Internal energy | Total energy stored in a system’s particles (kinetic + potential energies). | |
| Particle model of matter | Core | Specific latent heat | Energy required to change the state of 1 kg of a substance without changing temperature. | |
| Particle model of matter | Core | Gas pressure | Force per unit area from particle collisions with container walls; measured in pascals (Pa). | |
| Particle model of matter | Advanced | Brownian motion | Random motion of small particles in a fluid due to collisions with fluid particles. | |
| Particle model of matter | Advanced | Absolute zero | 0 K, the lowest possible temperature; particles have minimum possible kinetic energy. | |
| Atomic structure & radiation | Essential | Isotope | Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. | |
| Atomic structure & radiation | Core | Alpha (α) radiation | Helium nucleus emitted from an unstable nucleus; strongly ionising and stopped by paper/skin. | |
| Atomic structure & radiation | Core | Beta (β) radiation | A fast electron (or positron) emitted from the nucleus; moderately ionising; stopped by a few mm of aluminium. | |
| Atomic structure & radiation | Core | Gamma (γ) radiation | Electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus; weakly ionising; reduced by thick lead or concrete. | |
| Atomic structure & radiation | Core | Half-life | Time taken for the number of undecayed nuclei (or activity) to halve. | |
| Atomic structure & radiation | Advanced | Activity | The rate of nuclear decays per second; measured in becquerels (Bq). | |
| Forces & motion | Essential | Resultant force | The overall force on an object found by combining all the forces acting on it. | |
| Forces & motion | Core | Newton’s second law | Resultant force = mass × acceleration (F = ma). | |
| Forces & motion | Core | Momentum | Mass × velocity; measured in kg·m/s. | |
| Forces & motion | Core | Conservation of momentum | In a closed system, total momentum before an interaction equals total momentum after. | |
| Forces & motion | Advanced | Stopping distance | Thinking distance + braking distance; affected by speed, reaction time, brakes/tyres, and road conditions. | |
| Waves | Essential | Wave speed | Speed of wave movement: wave speed = frequency × wavelength. | |
| Waves | Essential | Frequency | Number of waves passing a point each second; measured in hertz (Hz). | |
| Waves | Core | Reflection | Waves bounce off a surface; angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. | |
| Waves | Core | Refraction | Change in direction when a wave enters a different medium due to a change in speed. | |
| Waves | Core | Diffraction | Spreading of waves when they pass through a gap or around an obstacle, most noticeable when gap size ~ wavelength. | |
| Waves | Advanced | Electromagnetic spectrum | All types of EM waves ordered by wavelength/frequency (radio → gamma). | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Essential | Magnetic field | A region where a magnetic material or moving charge experiences a force. | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Essential | Permanent magnet | A magnet that produces its own persistent magnetic field. | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Core | Induced magnetism | When a material becomes magnetised in the presence of a magnetic field. | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Core | Electromagnet | A magnet produced by an electric current in a coil (often around an iron core). | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Core | Solenoid | A coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when current flows through it. | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Core | Motor effect | A force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Advanced | Electromagnetic induction | Producing a potential difference by changing the magnetic flux linking a conductor/coil. | |
| Magnetism & electromagnetism | Advanced | Transformer | A device that changes the potential difference using induction; works with alternating current. | |
| Space physics | Essential | Solar system | The Sun and the objects orbiting it (planets, moons, asteroids, comets). | |
| Space physics | Core | Orbit | The curved path of an object around another due to gravitational attraction. | |
| Space physics | Core | Redshift | Light from a distant galaxy is shifted to longer wavelengths, indicating it is moving away. | |
| Space physics | Core | Big Bang theory | Model that the Universe began from a hot, dense state and has been expanding since. | |
| Space physics | Advanced | Cosmic microwave background (CMB) | Radiation left over from the early Universe; evidence for the Big Bang. | |
| Space physics | Advanced | Dark matter | Unseen matter inferred from gravitational effects (e.g., galaxy rotation curves). |
Pair this with our revision checklists, formula sheets hub and past paper finder.
Physics (8463) — Keywords & Key Terms FAQ
- What is on this AQA GCSE Physics keywords and key terms list?
- It is a topic-organised glossary of important physics terms with short, exam-style definitions aligned to AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — Specification (2026) (8463). It is designed for “define”, “state”, “outline” and “explain” questions where precise vocabulary earns marks.
- How should I use this Physics glossary alongside past papers?
- Tick terms when you can recall them without reading the answer, then check your wording against mark schemes. Pair vocabulary practice with past papers for GCSE Physics (8463) so you apply terms in context.
- Is this the same as a revision checklist or a formula sheet?
- No. Revision checklists help you track which syllabus topics you have covered and your confidence—separate pages on Tutopiya. Formula sheets summarise equations and quantitative relationships. This page is only a definitions and key-terms glossary for Physics. Quantitative relationships belong on formula sheets; this list emphasises language and concepts.
- Can I download this Physics keywords and key terms list for free?
- Yes. After a quick free sign-up you can download a UTF-8 CSV (opens in Excel or Google Sheets) or open a print-friendly page and save as PDF. Browsing the list on the page is free.
- Is this Physics list aligned to the 8463 specification?
- Topic groupings and wording follow AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — Specification (2026) for AQA GCSE. Always confirm final learning objectives and any regional options in your official specification and recent examiner reports for your exam session.
- Why focus on definitions instead of full notes?
- Mark schemes reward correct technical terms and clear links between ideas. A compact glossary lets you drill the exact language examiners expect for Physics at GCSE, separate from longer notes or topic trackers.