Electronics: Key Terms (Form 5 SPM Physics)

Terms and definitions

• 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.
• Elasticity, The property of a material that allows it to return to its original shape and size after the force deforming it is removed. (related term from another chapter)
• Hooke's law, Within the elastic limit, the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied to it. (related term from another chapter)
• Spring constant, The force needed to produce unit extension in a spring, a measure of its stiffness; measured in newtons per metre (N m⁻¹). (related term from another chapter)
• Elastic limit, The maximum force or extension beyond which a spring or material no longer returns to its original length. (related term from another chapter)

Content standards these terms come from

• 5.1 Electron
• 5.2 Semiconductor Diode
• 5.3 Transistor

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 Electronics resources

• Chapter overview: Electronics
• Revision Notes
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Questions
• Paper 2 Answering Guide
• Paper 3 Guide

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