Basic Physics Terminology For Science Students ↓
Absolute Zero or aught on the absolute temperature scale is the lowest temperature theoretically possible as well as is equal to -273.15°C or -459.67°F.
Adiabatic process is a procedure inwards which no oestrus enters or leaves a system. An adiabatic expansion results inwards cooling of a gas whereas an adiabatic compression has the opposite effect.
Advection is a procedure of transfer of atmospheric properties past times horizontal displace inwards the atmosphere.
Alpha Decay is a radioactive disintegration procedure inwards which the parent nucleus decays spontaneously into an alpha particle as well as a immature adult woman nucleus.
Alpha particle is the nucleus of a helium atom carrying a positive accuse of 2e.
Alternating current is an electrical electric flow that periodically reverses its management inwards the circuit, amongst a frequency independent of the constants of the circuit.
Amplitude, is the peak value of an alternating quantity inwards either the positive or negative management as well as is especially applied to the instance of a sinusoidal vibration.
Angstrom is the unit of measurement of wavelength of light. 1 Angstrom = 10-8 cm. There is a bigger unit of measurement for measuring the wavelength of infrared light; it is called a milli-micron as well as is equal to 10-7 cm. Micron = 10-4 cm, is a nevertheless bigger unit.
Angular displacement: The angle through which a point, trouble or trunk is rotated, inwards a specific management as well as most a specified axis.
Angular velocity is the charge per unit of measurement at which a trunk rotates most an axis, expressed inwards radians per second. It is a vector quantity equal to the linear velocity divided past times the radius.
Anion is an ion that carries a negative accuse as well as inwards electrolysis moves towards the anode.
Anode is the positive electrode of an electrolytic cell, discharge tube, valve or a rectifier.
Antenna is the term used inwards scientific as well as technical literature for "aerial". It was originally an American term.
Astigmatism refers to defect of an optical ikon inwards which the rays passing through the lens focus inwards dissimilar planes. It is caused due to odd curvatures of cornea or aberration inwards the lens.
Atomic number is the position out of protons contained inwards the nucleus of an atom or the position out of electrons revolving around the nucleus.
Atomic energy is liberated past times the disintegration of atom. Elements similar uranium, etc., tin live disintegrated to release atomic energy. 'The liberate energy released inwards the fission of a unmarried atom of uranium is most 1 1000000 times the liberate energy released per atom of the combustion of a fuel similar coal.
Atomic pile is a nuclear chain reactor.
Atomic Volume is the volumes inwards the enterprise set down of 1 mole of an element.
Atomic Weight is the weight of an atom of hydrogen taken every bit the standard; the respective weights of the atoms of all other substances arc expressed inwards damage of it. So, when it is stated that the atomic weight of Fe is 56, it is meant that the atom of Fe is 56 times every bit heavy every bit the atom of hydrogen.
Aurora is an intermittent electrical discharge occurring inwards the rarefied upper atmosphere.
Blackbody is the trunk whose surface absorbs all radiations incident on it as well as hence neither reflects nor transmits whatsoever radiation.
Boiling point is the temperature of a liquid at which visible evaporation occurs throughout the mass of the liquid as well as at which the vapour pressure level of the liquid equals the external atmospheric pressure. It is the temperature at which liquid as well as vapour tin be together inwards equilibrium at a given pressure.
Bomb Calorimeter is a device used for measuring the oestrus evolved past times the combustion of a fuel.
Bond energy is the liberate energy required to pause a chemic bond betwixt 2 atoms inwards a molecule. The bond liberate energy depends on the type of atoms as well as on the nature of the molecule.
Boyle's law If a given mass of a gas is compressed at constant temperature the production of the pressure level as well as book remains' constant.
Breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor inwards which to a greater extent than fissile cloth is produced than is consumed.
Brownian movement is the unceasing as well as irregular displace of modest particles (about 1 cm inwards diameter) when held inwards suspension inwards a liquid.
Buoyancy: Archimedes' regulation states that if a trunk is wholly or partly immersed inwards a fluid, it experiences an upward forcefulness equal to the weight of the fluid which would create total the infinite occupied past times the immersed role of the body.
Byte is a fixed position out of "bits" (now almost ever 8 bits) that tin live handled as well as stored every bit a unmarried unit of measurement inwards a computer.
Calibration is the conclusion of the absolute values of arbitrary indications of an instrument.
Calorie is the unit of measurement of heat. It is the amount of oestrus required to heighten the temperature of 1 gram of H2O through 1°C.
Chain reaction is a serial of nuclear transformations initiated past times a unmarried nuclear fission.
Charge is a holding of some elementary, particles that causes them to exert forcefulness on 1 another.
Charles' Law (Also known every bit Gay-Lussac's Law): The book of a fixed mass of whatsoever gas increases for each score rising inwards temperature past times - a constant fraction of the book at 0°C to 100°C, the pressure level beingness constant.
Critical temperature is the temperature higher upward which a pith tin be solely inwards its gaseous set down as well as cannot live liquified regardless of the magnitude of pressure level exerted on it. In metallurgy, it is the temperature at which a metallic or alloy begins to alter during heating or cooling.
Density is the mass pet unit of measurement book of a substance. In SI units, it is measured inwards kg/m3.
Dew point is the highest temperature a surface may receive got inwards gild that dew may condense on the surface from a humid atmosphere.
Dielectric is a pith that is capable of sustaining an electrical stress i.e. an insulator.
Diffusion is the procedure past times which fluids as well as solids mix intimately amongst 1 some other due to the kinetic motions of the particles.
Diode is whatsoever electronic device amongst solely 2 electrodes. Diodes arc ordinarily used every bit rectifiers.
Elasticity is the holding of a trunk or pith past times which it tends to resume its original size as well as shape subsequently beingness subjected to deforming forces.
Electret is a slice of enterprise affair which retains a permanent electron polarisation similar a permanent magnet.
Electrosmosis is the passage of an electrolyte through a membrane or porous sectionalisation nether the influence of an electrical current.
Emission is the liberation of electrons or electromagnetic radiations from the surface of a enterprise or liquid, ordinarily electrons from a metal.
Equilibrium: H5N1 arrangement of coplanar forces is inwards equilibrium when the algebraic sums of the resolved parts of the forces inwards whatsoever 2 directions are both aught as well as the algebraic amount of the moments of the forces most whatsoever dot inwards their bird is zero.
Escape velocity is the velocity that ‘a projectile infinite probe etc., must achieve inwards order' to escape the gravitational plain of a planet or the moon. It depends on the mass as well as diameter of the planet. The escape velocity is most 11200 m/sec. for the Earth.
Fatigue is the progressive decrease of a holding due to repeated stress.
Ferromagnetism is a holding of sure as shooting enterprise substances that, having a large positive magnetic susceptibility, are capable of beingness magnetised past times weak magnetic fields. The original ferromagnetic elements are iron, cobalt as well as nickel.
Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a pith volition furnish sufficient inflammable vapour to ignite upon the application of a modest flame.
Fluid is a collective term embracing liquids as well as gases.
Fluorescence is the absorption of radiant liberate energy past times a substance, at in 1 lawsuit followed past times its remission inwards the shape of visible lite of a greater wavelength.
Freezing mixture is a mixture of H2O ice amongst common salt as well as so every bit to lower melting dot of H2O ice as well as go along other bodies cooler for longer time.
Fuse is a device to preclude unduly high electrical flow from passing through an electrical circuit past times breaking contact.
Fusion is the alter of the set down of a pith from enterprise to liquid which occurs at a definite temperature at a given applied pressure.
Gamma rays arc electromagnetic radiations emitted spontaneously past times sure as shooting radioactive substances inwards the procedure of a nuclear transition.
Gauss's theorem is total electrical flux acting normal to whatsoever unopen surface drawn inwards an electrical plain is equal to the total accuse of electricity within the unopen surface.
Generator is a machine for converting mechanical liberate energy into electrical energy.
Heat exchanger is a device for transferring oestrus from 1 fluid to some other without the fluids coming inwards contact. Its role is either to regulate the temperatures of the fluids for optimum efficiency of some process, or to brand job of oestrus that would otherwise live wasted.
Hook-up is a temporary connecter betwixt electrical or electronic circuits or a temporary communications channel.
Horse Power is the practical unit of measurement of power—the mightiness of an agent which tin go at the charge per unit of measurement of 550 foot-pounds per 2d or 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. MP = 746, watts.
Hypermetropia is a defect of oculus inwards which close objects arc non distinctly visible. This is every bit good called long-sightedness.
Ice point is the temperature of equilibrium of H2O ice as well as H2O at measure pressure.
Incandescence is the emission of visible radiations from a pith at high temperature.
Incandescent lamp is an electrical light inwards which lite is produced past times the heating lawsuit of a filament of carbon, osmium or tungsten.
Incidence angle is the angle betwixt the ray hitting a reflecting or refracting surface as well as the normal to the surface at the dot of incidence.
Inertia is holding of affair past times which it resists alter inwards its set down of remainder or inwards its management of motion.
Intensity is the charge per unit of measurement of liberate energy transfer per unit of measurement expanse normal to the management of propagation at whatsoever given point.
Ion is electrically charged atom or grouping of atoms.
Isothermal is a trouble joining all points on a graph that friction match to the same temperature.
Isothermal process is a procedure that occurs at a constant temperature.
Isotopes arc atoms of an chemical element having the same atomic position out only dissimilar atomic weights.
Jet engine is aero-engine deriving its thrust from the high velocity of the gases it ejects.
Joule is the unit of measurement of go or energy. It is equal to 107 ergs. It is the liberate energy consumed inwards 1 2d inwards an electrical circuit through which a electrical flow liberate energy of 1 ampere is flowing against a potential difference of 1 volt.
Joule's effect is the liberation of oestrus past times the passage of a electrical flow through an electrical conductor, due to its resistance.
Kilowatt-hour is a unit of measurement of liberate energy equivalent to the liberate energy produced when mightiness of 1 kilowatt is expended for 1 hour.
Kinetic energy is the liberate energy possessed past times a particle or trunk past times virtue of its motion.
Laminar flow is steady flow inwards which the fluid moves inwards parallel layers or laminae, the velocities of the fluid particles within each lamina non beingness necessarily equal.
Laser is a source of intense mono-chromatic coherent radiations inwards the visible, ultraviolet as well as infrared regions of the spectrum.
Latent heat is the quantity of oestrus required to convert 1 gm of a pith from 1 shape into another. The unit of measurement is calories per grim.
Lightning is a disruptive discharge of electricity betwixt a charged cloud as well as the basis or betwixt 2 clouds. It is caused when the difference of potentials betwixt a cloud as well as basis or betwixt 2 clouds becomes as well as so large that electricity passes across the gap.
Lightning conductor is a conductor of electricity installed inwards a construction to relieve it from damage. It neutralises the electrical accuse of the clouds coming inwards its contact or carries it to the earth.
Light Year is the distance lite travels inwards 1 hateful solar year, at the speed of 1,86,000 miles per second. It is equal to 5,880,000,000 miles. It is used every bit a unit of measurement for measuring stellar distances.
Magnetic circuit is the completely unopen path described past times a given laid of lines of magnetic flux.
Magnetic field is the field, of forcefulness surrounding a magnetic pole or a electrical flow flowing through a conductor, inwards which in that location is a magnetic flux.
Mariner's Compass is an apparatus for determining direction, graduated to betoken 33 directions. The "N" dot on the dial indicates northward pole as well as the "S" point, southward pole.
Mechanical equivalent of heat (Joule's Constant) is the ratio of amount of go done as well as the quantity of oestrus produced inwards a mechanical work. It is a constant.
Modulus of Elasticity is the ratio of stress to strain for a trunk obeying Hooke's law.
Molecular weight is the amount of the atomic weights of all the atoms contained inwards a molecule.
Momentum is the production of the mass as well as the velocity of the particle. It is a vector quantity directed through the particle inwards the management of motion.
Myopia is a defect of vision blurring distant objects. Also called shortsightedness. It is corrected past times the job of concave lenses.
Negative electron is an electron amongst a negative accuse every bit opposed to the positively charged electron or positron.
Neutron is an simple particle having aught accuse as well as a remainder mass of 1.674 x 10-27 kg, that is a flora of the atomic nucleus.
Newton is the SI unit of measurement of force, defined every bit the forcefulness that provides a mass of 1 kilogramme amongst an acceleration of 1 metre per 2d per second.
Nuclear fission is splitting upward of a heavy atom (e.g., uranium inwards 2 or to a greater extent than novel atoms) amongst enormous release of energy.
Nuclear chain reaction occurs inwards radioactive elements charging the nuclei of atoms as well as yielding atoms of dissimilar elements or isotopes of the original elements.
Nucleon is the collective term for a "proton" or "neutron" i.e., for a factor of an atomic nucleus.
Ohm is the SI unit of measurement of electrical resistance, defined every bit the resistance betwixt 2 points on a conductor through which a electrical flow of 1 ampere flows every bit a termination of a potential difference of 1 volt applied betwixt the points, the conductor non beingness a source of electromagnetic force.
Ohm's Law states that the electrical electric flow inwards whatsoever conductor is proportional to the potential difference betwixt its ends, other factors remaining constant.
Optical Centre is a dot on the surface of a lens where the optical axis intersects the surface.
Paramagnetism is the holding of substances that receive got a positive magnetic susceptibility.
Partial pressure is the pressure level of a gas inwards a mixture of gases occupying a fixed book of the pressure level that the gas would exert if it has lone occupied the total volume.
Pascal's principle states that pressure level applied at whatsoever dot of a fluid at remainder is transmitted without loss to all other parts of the fluid.
Pauli's Exclusion Principle is the regulation that no 2 fermions tin be inwards identical quantum states, hence no 2 electrons inwards an atom tin live identical inwards their quantum numbers.
Persistence of vision is the impression of an ikon on the retina for an instant subsequently its withdrawal. Successive images create an impression of continuity. The regulation is used inwards cinema.
Presbyopia is a defect of vision inwards which objects are non clearly visible due to weakening of oculus muscles inwards old age. It is overcome past times the job of suitable lenses inwards the same frame.
Proton is a positive hydrogen ion; it is 1836 times heavier than electron.
Pyrometer is an musical instrument used for measuring high temperatures.
Quantum Theory is a theory which is based on Planck's radiations law. The concept of discontinuity of liberate energy was introduced. According to this theory, changes of liberate energy inwards atoms as well as molecules occur solely inwards discrete quantities, each an integral multiple of a telephone substitution quantity. The telephone substitution quantity is to a greater extent than ofttimes than non referred to every bit quantum.
Quartz is a double refracting crystal, optically uniaxial as well as positive as well as rotating the bird of polarization to the left or right according to the variety, as well as to a dissimilar extent for dissimilar colours.
Radiation is transmission of oestrus without whatsoever carrier inwards between, e.g., transmission of oestrus from Sun to the earth's atmosphere.
Radioactivity is the phenomenon of spontaneous disintegration of unstable- atomic nuclei to give to a greater extent than stable production nuclei. It is ordinarily associated amongst the emission of alpha, beta as well as gamma rays.
Radio frequency is electromagnetic radiations inwards the frequency band three kilohertz to 300 gigahertz.
Radiography is the production of photographs of the internal construction of bodies, opaque to visible light,. past times the radiations from X rays or past times gamma rays from radioactive substances.
Raman effect is the phenomenon of scattering of lite when monochromatic lite passes through a transparent medium.
Reactor is an apparatus for generation of atomic energy.
Rectifier is a device for converting an alternating electrical flow into a straight one.
Refraction is a departure of lite passing from 1 medium into another.
Saturated Vapour is a vapour which is inwards dynamic equilibrium amongst its liquid at a given temperature. It tin hence agree no to a greater extent than pith inwards the gaseous stage unless the temperature is raised.
Scalar quantity agency quantity which has solely magnitude as well as no direction, e.g., mass, length, etc.
Scattering is the deflection of lite liberate energy past times fine particles of liquid, enterprise or gaseous affair from the main management of a beam.
Short circuit is the straight flow of electrical flow betwixt 2 points of dissimilar potential.
Specific heat is the quantity of oestrus required to heighten the temperature of 1 grain of pith past times 1 score centigrade.
Static electricity (frictional electricity) is the electricity generated past times friction.
Storage battery (accumulator) is a jail cellphone which is charged to shop electricity past times chemic reaction.
Telemetry is a agency of making measuring inwards which the measured quantity is distance from the recording apparatus as well as the information is sent over a item telecommunications arrangement from the measuring seat to the recording position.
Total internal reflection is the phenomenon inwards which lite when transversing from an optically denser to an optically rarer medium strikes the mutual surface of the 2 media at such an angle that it is reflected completely inwards the quondam medium.
Transmutation of elements is alter of 1 chemic clement into another.
Ultimate strength is the limited stress at which a cloth completely fractures or breaks downwards or crushes.
Ultrasonic Means audio waves of high frequency (12,000 Cycles per 2d as well as higher) inaudible to human ear.
Ultraviolet rays are invisible electromagnetic rays of wavelength less than 3,000 angstrom.
Unsaturated vapour is a vapour at a sure as shooting temperature that does non incorporate the maximum amount of the pith inwards the gaseous phase.
Velocity is the charge per unit of measurement of alter of seat of a trunk inwards a given fourth dimension inwards a definite direction.
Viscosity is the holding of a liquid attention to resist the relative displace within its layers.
Voltage is the electromotive forcefulness inwards electricity.
Valency is the combining mightiness of an chemical element amongst honor to hydrogen (e.g., inwards water, H2O, oxygen has a valency of 2).
