- Electron
- A stable subatomic particle carrying a negative electric charge, found orbiting the nucleus of an atom.
- Thermionic emission
- The release of electrons from the surface of a heated metal when it is given enough thermal energy.
- Cathode ray
- A stream of fast-moving electrons emitted from a cathode and travelling towards the anode in a vacuum tube.
- Semiconductor
- A material whose electrical conductivity lies between that of a conductor and an insulator, such as silicon.
- Doping
- The process of adding a small, controlled amount of impurity to a pure semiconductor to change its electrical properties.
- n-type semiconductor
- A semiconductor doped so that free electrons are the majority charge carriers.
- p-type semiconductor
- A semiconductor doped so that positive holes are the majority charge carriers.
- Semiconductor diode
- A component made from a p-n junction that allows current to flow in one direction only.
- Rectification
- The process of converting alternating current into direct current, usually using diodes.
- Transistor
- A semiconductor device with three terminals used to amplify signals or to act as an electronic switch.
- Light-emitting diode (LED)
- A semiconductor diode that emits light when a current flows through it in the forward direction.
What "Electronics" terms cover
This group collects the 11 SPM Physics terms in Electronics. Getting these definitions exactly right is some of the cheapest marks in Paper 2, a "define" or "state" question wants one precise sentence with the correct unit.
The key terms to get right
- Electron, A stable subatomic particle carrying a negative electric charge, found orbiting the nucleus of an atom.
- Thermionic emission, The release of electrons from the surface of a heated metal when it is given enough thermal energy.
- Cathode ray, A stream of fast-moving electrons emitted from a cathode and travelling towards the anode in a vacuum tube.
- Semiconductor, A material whose electrical conductivity lies between that of a conductor and an insulator, such as silicon.
- Doping, The process of adding a small, controlled amount of impurity to a pure semiconductor to change its electrical properties.
- n-type semiconductor, A semiconductor doped so that free electrons are the majority charge carriers.
- p-type semiconductor, A semiconductor doped so that positive holes are the majority charge carriers.
- Semiconductor diode, A component made from a p-n junction that allows current to flow in one direction only.
- Rectification, The process of converting alternating current into direct current, usually using diodes.
- Transistor, A semiconductor device with three terminals used to amplify signals or to act as an electronic switch.
- Light-emitting diode (LED), A semiconductor diode that emits light when a current flows through it in the forward direction.
How this vocabulary is examined
These terms appear as define/state items in Paper 1 and Paper 2, and inside explain and calculate questions where using the wrong word costs marks. Learn each term with its unit and one example of correct use.
Source: DSKP KSSM Physics Form 4 and 5 (Versi English) (Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum (BPK), KPM)