Electromagnetism: Key Terms (Form 5 SPM Physics)

Terms and definitions

• Magnetic field, The region around a magnet or current-carrying conductor in which a magnetic force can be detected.
• Electromagnet, A magnet made by passing an electric current through a coil, usually wound around a soft iron core, whose magnetism can be switched on and off.
• Force on a current-carrying conductor, The force experienced by a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field, at right angles to both the current and the field.
• Electromagnetic induction, The production of an electromotive force in a conductor when there is a changing magnetic field linking it.
• Induced current, The current that flows in a closed conductor as a result of electromagnetic induction.
• Transformer, A device that uses electromagnetic induction to change the voltage of an alternating current.
• Step-up transformer, A transformer with more turns on the secondary coil than the primary, which increases the alternating voltage.
• Step-down transformer, A transformer with fewer turns on the secondary coil than the primary, which decreases the alternating voltage.
• Direct current, An electric current that flows in one direction only.
• Alternating current, An electric current that periodically reverses its direction of flow.
• Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, The magnitude of the induced electromotive force is directly proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux linking the conductor.
• Resultant force, The single force that has the same effect as two or more forces acting together on an object. (related term from another chapter)
• Resolution of forces, The process of splitting a single force into two components, usually perpendicular to each other. (related term from another chapter)
• Forces in equilibrium, The condition in which the resultant of all forces acting on an object is zero, so it stays at rest or moves with constant velocity. (related term from another chapter)
• Free body diagram, A diagram that shows all the forces acting on a single object, drawn as arrows from the object. (related term from another chapter)

Content standards these terms come from

• 4.1 Force on a Current-carrying Conductor in a Magnetic Field
• 4.2 Electromagnetic Induction
• 4.3 Transformer

How to learn them

1. Cover the definition, say it aloud, then check the unit.
2. Pair each term with a formula or experiment from the chapter.
3. Write the Malay term alongside the English one, SPM papers are bilingual.

More Electromagnetism resources

• Chapter overview: Electromagnetism
• Revision Notes
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Questions
• Paper 2 Answering Guide
• Paper 3 Guide
• Calculation practice sets

Source: DSKP KSSM Physics Form 4 and 5 (Versi English), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia: Format Pentaksiran mulai 2021, Fizik (4531) (Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum (BPK), KPM)