1. Quantisation of charge: Charge exists in discrete packets equal to integral multiples of e.
SI unit:
coulomb (C).
2. Additivity of charge: Total charge of a system is the algebraic sum of individual charges.
3. Conservation of charge: Total electric charge of an isolated system remains constant.
4. Electric field: Force per unit positive test charge. SI unit: N C■¹.
5. Electric dipole: Two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance. SI unit: C m.
6. Electric flux: Number of electric field lines passing through a surface. SI unit: N m² C■¹.
7. Linear charge density: Charge per unit length. SI unit: C m■¹.
8. Surface charge density: Charge per unit area. SI unit: C m■².
9. Volume charge density: Charge per unit volume. SI unit: C m■³.
10. Electric potential due to point charge: Work done in bringing unit positive charge from infinity. SI
unit: volt (V).
11. Potential difference: Work done per unit charge between two points.
12. Potential gradient: Rate of decrease of potential with distance. E = −dV/dr.
13. Dielectric: Non■conducting material placed in electric field.
14. Dielectric constant: Ratio of capacitance with dielectric to air.
15. Dielectric strength: Maximum electric field a dielectric withstands.
16. Polar molecules: Molecules with permanent dipole moment. Nonpolar molecules: No permanent
dipole moment.
17. Capacitance: Charge stored per unit potential. SI unit: farad (F).
18. Electric current: Rate of flow of charge. SI unit: ampere (A).
19. Current density: Current per unit area. SI unit: A m■².
20. Mobility: Drift velocity per unit electric field. SI unit: m² V■¹ s■¹.
21. Conductivity: Ability to conduct current (S m■¹). Resistivity: Opposition to current (Ω m).
22. Drift velocity: Average velocity of electrons in conductor. SI unit: m s■¹.
23. EMF: Energy supplied per unit charge by source.
24. Internal resistance: Opposition to current inside cell.
25. Terminal voltage: Potential difference across terminals of cell.
26. Permeability: Ability of medium to support magnetic field.
27. Susceptibility: Degree of magnetisation in magnetic field.
28. Magnetisation: Magnetic moment per unit volume. SI unit: A m■¹.
29. RMS value: Effective value of AC current or voltage.
30. Mean AC value: Average current over half cycle; zero over full cycle.
31. Inductive reactance: Opposition by inductor (XL = ωL). SI unit: ohm.
32. Capacitive reactance: Opposition by capacitor (XC = 1/ωC). SI unit: ohm.
33. Phasor: Rotating vector representing AC quantity.
34. Impedance: Total opposition in AC circuit. SI unit: ohm.
35. Peak AC current/voltage: Maximum value of AC quantity.
36. Instantaneous AC current/voltage: Value at any instant.
37. Wattless current: Current with zero average power.
38. Power factor: cosφ between voltage and current.
39. Resonance: XL = XC in LCR circuit.
40. Displacement current: Current due to changing electric field.
41. Real depth & apparent depth: Depth difference due to refraction.
42. Angular magnification: Ratio of angle with instrument to naked eye.
43. Wavefront: Surface of constant phase.
44. Huygens principle: Every point on wavefront acts as source.
45. Threshold frequency: Minimum frequency for photoelectric emission.
46. Threshold wavelength: Maximum wavelength causing emission.
47. Work function: Minimum energy to remove electron.
48. Stopping potential: Negative potential stopping photoelectrons.
49. Matter waves: Waves associated with moving particles.
50. de Broglie wavelength: λ = h/p.
51. Impact parameter: Perpendicular distance of path from nucleus.
52. Bohr’s postulates: Quantised orbits, no radiation, energy emission during transition.
53. Ionisation energy: Energy needed to remove electron.
54. Ionisation potential: Potential required for ionisation.
55. Excitation energy: Energy needed to excite atom.
56. Excitation potential: Potential required for excitation.
57. Atomic mass unit: 1/12 mass of carbon■12 atom.
58. Mass defect: Difference between nucleon mass and nucleus mass.
59. Binding energy: Energy required to separate nucleus.
60. Q value: Energy released in nuclear reaction.
61. Depletion layer: Region without free carriers in PN junction.
62. Barrier potential: Potential across depletion layer.
63. Diffusion current: Current due to carrier concentration difference.
64. Drift current: Current due to applied electric field.
65. Hole: Absence of electron acting as positive charge.
66. Electrical neutrality: Equal positive and negative charges in semiconductor.
