📚 Physics Vocabulary and Terminology Quick Memory Guide | 物理词汇术语速记指南
Welcome to your SQA Year 12 Physics terminology companion. Physics is a language of its own, and mastering the key terms is the first step toward deep understanding and exam success. This guide breaks down essential vocabulary into logical groups, offering memorable explanations and mental hooks so that you can recall definitions with confidence under pressure.
欢迎来到你的 SQA 12 年级物理术语伙伴。物理本身就是一门语言，掌握关键术语是走向深刻理解和考试成功的第一步。本指南将核心词汇按逻辑分组，提供易于记忆的解释和思维挂钩，让你在压力下也能自信地回想定义。
1. Scalars and Vectors | 标量与矢量
A scalar is a physical quantity that has magnitude only. Think of it as a 'scale' reading: temperature, mass, energy and time do not care about direction. A vector has both magnitude and direction. Imagine an arrow pointing from a start to an end; displacement, velocity, acceleration and force are all vectors.
标量是只有大小的物理量。可以把它想象成一个“刻度”读数：温度、质量、能量和时间与方向无关。矢量既有大小又有方向。想象一支从起点指向终点的箭；位移、速度、加速度和力都是矢量。
To remember the difference, link 'scalar' with 'scale' (just a number) and 'vector' with 'vehicle' (which moves in a specific direction). In your exam, always check whether a quantity needs direction to be fully described.
为了记住区别，可以把“标量”和“刻度”（只是一个数字）联系起来，把“矢量”和“车辆”（朝特定方向运动）联系起来。在考试中，始终要检查一个量是否需要方向才能被完整描述。
2. Kinematics Essentials | 运动学基础
Displacement (s) is the straight-line distance in a given direction from start to finish; it is not the same as distance, which is scalar. Velocity (v) is the rate of change of displacement, while speed is the rate of change of distance. Acceleration (a) is the rate of change of velocity.
位移 (s) 是从起点到终点在给定方向上的直线距离；它不同于标量的距离。速度 (v) 是位移变化的快慢，而速率是距离变化的快慢。加速度 (a) 是速度变化的快慢。
The three equations of motion (SUVAT) are your toolkit. Use a mnemonic like 'Very Silly Unicorns Are Trapped' , s = ½(u+v)t. Remember that these only work for constant acceleration in a straight line.
三个运动方程（SUVAT）是你的工具箱。用一个助记句，比如“Very Silly Unicorns Are Trapped”来回忆 v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as, s = ½(u+v)t。记住它们只适用于匀加速直线运动。
3. Dynamics and Newton's Laws | 动力学与牛顿定律
Newton' k of a book on a table staying put until you push it. The Second Law, F = ma, ties force, mass and acceleration together. The Third Law reminds us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction; forces come in pairs acting on different bodies.
牛顿第一定律指出，物体将保持静止或匀速运动，除非受到非平衡力的作用。这是惯性定律；想象桌上的一本书，直到你推它才会动。第二定律 F = ma 将力、质量和加速度联系在一起。第三定律提醒我们每个作用力都有一个大小相等、方向相反的反作用力；力成对出现并作用在不同物体上。
When you hear 'unbalanced force', picture a tug-of-war where one side suddenly let's go — that instant change in motion is the result. Free-body diagrams help you visualise force pairs and net force, so practice drawing them for every situation.
当你听到“非平衡力”时，想象一场拔河比赛中有一方突然放手——那一瞬间的运动变化就是结果。受力分析图能帮你直观地看到力对和净力，所以要在每种情况下练习绘制它们。
4. Energy and Power | 能量与功率
y due to height in a gravitational field. The law of conservation of energy says that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Think of a pendulum: at the highest point, energy is all potential; at the lowest, all kinetic.
能量是做功的本领。动能 (Ek = ½mv²) 是物体由于运动而具有的能量，而重力势能 (Ep = mgh) 是由于在重力场中的高度而储存的能量。能量守恒定律指出，能量不能被创造或消灭，只能转化。想象一个单摆：在最高点，能量全为势能；在最低点，全为动能。
Power is the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred: P = E/t. Use the phrase 'power is how fast you spend your energy' w to internalise the concept. In SQA exams, always show energy conversions clearly and include any work done against friction as a loss to heat.
功率是做功或传递能量的快慢：P = E/t。用“功率就是你消耗能量的速度”这句话来内化概念。在 SQA 考试中，始终要清楚地展示能量转化，并将克服摩擦做的功算作转化成内能的损失。
5. Momentum and Impulse | 动量与冲量
Momentum (p) is the product of an object' t acts: FΔt = Δp. An airbag in a car increases the time of impact, reducing the average force — a direct application of impulse.
动量 (p) 是物体质量与速度的乘积：p = mv，它是一个矢量。冲量是动量的变化量，等于平均净力乘以力作用的时间：FΔt = Δp。汽车安全气囊通过增大碰撞时间减小平均力——这就是冲量的直接应用。
The law of conservation of linear momentum says that in the absence of external forces, total momentum before a collision equals total momentum after. Use the 'explosion problem' trick: when objects push apart, total momentum is zero, so the two momenta are equal and opposite.
动量守恒定律指出，在没有外力作用时，碰撞前的总动量等于碰撞后的总动量。用一个“爆炸问题”技巧：当物体相互推开时，总动量为零，因此二者的动量大小相等、方向相反。
6. Electricity: Charge, Current and Potential Difference | 电学：电荷、电流和电势差
in a pipe. Potential difference (voltage, V) is the energy transferred per unit charge: V = W/Q. Think of voltage as the electrical 'push' or pressure that drives the current around a circuit.
电荷 (Q) 以库仑为单位。电流 (I) 是电荷流动的速率：I = Q/t，它就像水管中每秒流过某一点的水量。电势差（电压, V）是每单位电荷转移的能量：V = W/Q。可以把电压想象成驱动电流在电路中流动的电“推力”或压力。
(R) is the opposition to current, defined by R = V/I. The ohm symbol Ω helps remind you it 'opposes'. Ohm' al to I. Use the triangle method (V over I times R) to rearrange the relationship quickly.
电阻 (R) 是对电流的阻碍作用，由 R = V/I 定义。欧姆的符号 Ω 帮你记住它“阻”的作用。欧姆定律适用于恒温下的欧姆导体，此时 V 与 I 成正比。使用三角形法（V 在上，I 和 R 在下）来快速转换关系。
7. Waves: Parameters and Behaviour | 波：参数与行为
the distance between two successive points in phase, like crest to crest. Frequency (f) is the number of complete waves per second, measured in hertz (Hz). The wave equation v = fλ connects speed, frequency and wavelength.
波传递能量而不传递物质。振幅是离开平衡位置的最大位移。波长 (λ) 是两个相邻的同相位点之间的距离，如波峰到波峰。频率 (f) 是每秒通过的完整波的个数，单位是赫兹 (Hz)。波的方程 v = fλ 将波速、频率和波长联系在一起。
Transverse waves (like light) oscillate perpendicular to energy transfer; longitudinal waves (like sound) oscillate parallel. Remember by thinking: 'transverse – transport cross ways'. Diffraction is the spreading of waves around an obstacle or through a gap, most obvious when the gap size is similar to the wavelength.
横波（如光）的振动方向与能量传递方向垂直；纵波（如声）的振动方向与能量传递方向平行。用“transverse – transport cross ways”来记忆。衍射是波遇到障碍物或通过缝隙时发生的绕射现象，当缝隙尺寸与波长相近时最明显。
8. Refraction and Critical Angle | 折射与临界角
l is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to its speed in the material: n = c/v. Snell's law states n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂.
折射是波由于速度变化而从一种介质进入另一种介质时发生的方向改变。材料的折射率 (n) 是光在真空中的速度与在该材料中速度的比值：n = c/v。斯涅尔定律为 n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂。
The critical angle (θc) is the angle of incidence in the denser medium for which the angle of refraction is 90°. Total internal reflection occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle. Fibre optics use this principle to transmit light signals over long distances without significant loss.
临界角 (θc) 是光密介质中使折射角为 90° 的入射角。当入射角大于临界角时，发生全内反射。光纤利用这一原理远距离传输光信号且损耗很小。
9. Nuclear Radiation: Types and Properties | 核辐射：类型与性质
Alpha (α) particles are helium nuclei (2 protons, 2 neutrons), strongly ionising but weakly penetrating; they can be stopped by paper. Beta (β) particles are fast-moving electrons, moderately ionising and penetrating; aluminium stops them. Gamma (γ) rays are electromagnetic waves, weakly ionising but highly penetrating; thick lead or concrete reduces their intensity.
阿尔法 (α) 粒子是氦核（2 个质子、2 个中子），电离能力强但穿透力弱，可以被纸挡住。贝塔 (β) 粒子是高速运动的电子，电离能力和穿透力中等，铝可以挡住它们。伽马 (γ) 射线是电磁波，电离能力弱但穿透力极强，厚铅板或混凝土可以减弱它的强度。
Activity (A) is the number of decays per second, measured in becquerels (Bq). Half-life is the time taken for the activity (or number of unstable nuclei) to fall to half its initial value. Remember that half-life is constant for a given isotope and is not affected by temperature or pressure.
活度 (A) 是每秒衰变次数，单位是贝克勒尔 (Bq)。半衰期是活度（或不稳定原子核数量）减少到初始值一半所需的时间。记住，对于某一种同位素，半衰期是恒定的，不受温度或压力影响。
10. Quantum Phenomena: Photons and Spectra | 量子现象：光子与光谱
A photon is a packet of electromagnetic energy. Its energy E = hf, where h is Planck' electrons are emitted from a metal surface when light above a threshold frequency shines on it.
光子是电磁能量的一份。其能量 E = hf，其中 h 是普朗克常数，f 是频率。由于 c = fλ，可以写成 E = hc/λ。光电效应表明光的行为像粒子：当高于阈值频率的光照射在金属表面时，电子会从表面逸出。
Line spectra occur because electrons in atoms can only exist in specific energy levels. When an electron drops from a higher to a lower level, a photon of energy equal to the difference is emitted. This produces the characteristic bright lines of an emission spectrum. Absorption spectra appear as dark lines when a continuous spectrum passes through a cool gas; the gas absorbs photons of the exact energies that match its energy level differences.
线状光谱的产生是因为原子中的电子只能处于特定的能级。当电子从高能级跃迁到低能级时，会发射一个能量等于能级差的光子，这就产生了发射光谱中特有的明线。当连续光谱通过冷气体时，气体会吸收恰好与其能级差匹配的光子，从而形成暗线状的吸收光谱。
11. Electromagnetism and Magnetic Fields | 电磁学与磁场
scribes the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field: F = BILsinθ. Use Fleming's left-hand rule: first finger – field (N to S), second finger – current (+ to -), thumb – motion/force.
磁场是磁性材料或运动电荷受到作用力的区域。磁感线从北指向南。电动机效应描述了磁场中通电导线所受的力：F = BILsinθ。使用弗莱明左手定则：食指——磁场（N 到 S），中指——电流（+ 到 -），拇指——运动/力。
An induced emf occurs when a conductor cuts magnetic flux, summarised by Faraday's law. Lenz's law states that the induced current flows in a direction that opposes the change producing it. Think of a magnet approaching a coil: the coil acts like a magnet pushing back. For SQA exams, practice explaining the dynamo effect and electromagnetic braking using these principles.
当导体切割磁通量时会产生感应电动势，法拉第定律概括了这一点。楞次定律指出，感应电流的方向总是试图阻碍引起它的变化。想象磁铁靠近线圈：线圈就像一块推回去的磁铁。在 SQA 考试中，要练习用这些原理解释发电机效应和电磁制动。
12. The Standard Model and Fundamental Particles | 标准模型与基本粒子
All matter is made of fermions, divided into quarks and leptons. Protons and neutrons are composed of up (u) and down (d) quarks: proton is uud, neutron is udd. The strong force, carried by gluons, holds quarks together. Leptons include electrons, muons and neutrinos, which do not experience the strong force.
所有物质都由费米子构成，费米子分为夸克和轻子。质子和中子由上夸克 (u) 和下夸克 (d) 组成：质子是 uud，中子为 udd。由胶子传递的强相互作用力将夸克束缚在一起。轻子包括电子、μ子和中微子，它们不参与强相互作用。
Antimatter particles have the same mass but opposite charge. A positron is the antimatter counterpart of the electron. When a particle meets its antiparticle, annihilation occurs, producing gamma photons. Pair production is the reverse process: a photon near a nucleus can transform into a particle-antiparticle pair.
反物质粒子质量相同但电荷相反。正电子是电子的反物质对应物。当粒子遇到其反粒子时，会发生湮灭并产生伽马光子。电子对产生是逆过程：原子核附近的光子可以转化为一个粒子-反粒子对。
Remember the 'three-generation' pattern of quarks and leptons. Familiarise yourself with the symbols: ν for neutrino, μ for muon. Drawing a quick quark composition table helps you deduce charge and baryon number in unfamiliar particle questions.
记住夸克和轻子的“三代”模式。熟悉符号：ν 代表中微子，μ 代表 μ子。画一个快速的夸克组份表，有助于你在陌生的粒子问题中推算出电荷和重子数。
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