This glossary gives the meaning of 20 Physics terms, a short example and the term each is confused with. It ends with the question words that decide how long your answer should be.
It belongs to SPM Physics. For an interactive bridge between English, Malay and Chinese terms, use the BM-English terminology bridge.
Motion and force terms
| Term (Malay) | Meaning | Example | Confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement (sesaran) | straight-line distance from the start, with direction | 30 m east then 10 m west gives 20 m east | distance |
| Velocity (halaju) | rate of change of displacement | 10 m s⁻¹ north | speed |
| Acceleration (pecutan) | rate of change of velocity | 3 m s⁻² for a car speeding up | velocity |
| Momentum (momentum) | mass × velocity | 1200 kg at 5 m s⁻¹ gives 6000 kg m s⁻¹ | impulse |
| Impulse (impuls) | force × time, equal to change in momentum | 90 N for 0.02 s gives 1.8 N s | force |
| Force (daya) | a push or pull measured in newtons | a 20 N pull on a box | energy |
| Resultant force (daya paduan) | single force replacing all forces | 30 N pushed, 10 N friction gives 20 N | sum of magnitudes |
| Equilibrium (keseimbangan) | resultant force is zero | a lamp hanging at rest | being at rest only |
Mass, weight and energy terms
| Term (Malay) | Meaning | Example | Confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass (jisim) | amount of matter, in kg | 6.0 kg block | weight |
| Weight (berat) | gravitational force on a mass, in N | 60 N for 6.0 kg with g = 10 | mass |
| Gravitational field strength (kekuatan medan graviti) | force per unit mass, in N kg⁻¹ | 10 N kg⁻¹ near the Earth | gravitational constant G |
| Work (kerja) | force × distance moved in the direction of the force | 20 N over 3.0 m gives 60 J | force |
| Energy (tenaga) | ability to do work, in joules | 100 J of potential energy at 2.0 m | power |
| Power (kuasa) | rate of doing work, in watts | 60 J in 4.0 s gives 15 W | energy |
| Spring constant (pemalar spring) | force per unit extension, in N m⁻¹ | 8 N for 5 cm gives 160 N m⁻¹ | extension |
| Elastic potential energy (tenaga keupayaan kenyal) | energy stored in a stretched spring, ½kx² | 0.20 J for k = 160 and x = 0.05 m | force × extension |
Pressure and electricity terms
| Term (Malay) | Meaning | Example | Confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure (tekanan) | force per unit area, in Pa | 100 N over 0.5 m² gives 200 Pa | force |
| Current (arus) | rate of flow of charge, in A | 2 A for 3 s moves 6 C | voltage |
| Potential difference (beza keupayaan) | energy per unit charge, in V | a 12 V battery | current |
| Resistance (rintangan) | opposition to current, V ÷ I, in Ω | 12 V and 3 A give 4 Ω | resistivity |
Write the unit every time you use these terms in a calculation. A unit check, described in using dimensions to detect an incorrect formula substitution, catches many of these mix-ups.
What do the question words ask for?
The question word decides the length and type of your answer.
| Word (Malay) | What to write |
|---|---|
| State (nyatakan) | a short fact, law or value with no reasons |
| Describe (huraikan) | what happens, step by step or in order |
| Explain (terangkan) | why it happens, linking cause and effect |
| Calculate (hitung) | a numerical answer with working and a unit |
| Determine (tentukan) | a value found from data, a graph or an equation |
| Compare (bandingkan) | similarities and differences in matching terms |
| Suggest (cadangkan) | a reasonable idea that fits the situation |
Read the marks beside the question. A 1-mark “state” needs one point, while a 3-mark “explain” needs three linked statements. Check the current paper format on the Lembaga Peperiksaan website.
Where should I go next?
Use the terms in context in force and motion I and force and motion II. The exam guide shows how answers are assessed.
If you would like a teacher to check how you use the terms, see online one-to-one Physics tuition.