Bañares, Eros Husse V.

STEM – 23 6/6/2018
Glossary of Physics Terms
A: Annihilation: A process in which a particle and antiparticle combine and release their rest energies in other
particles.

B: Buoyant force: Upward force on an object immersed in fluid.

C: Candela: The S.I. unit of luminous intensity defined as the luminous intensity in a given direction of a source that
emits monochromatic photons of frequency 540 x 1012 Hz & has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 W/sr

D: Displacement: The shortest distance between the initial and final position of a moving body. It is a vector
quantity.

E: Endothermic process: The process in which heat is absorbed.

Exothermic process: The process in which heat is evolved.

F: Free fall: The motion of a body under the effect of gravity alone.

G: Gravitational potential energy: The energy possessed by a body due to its position.

H: Half-life: The time during which half the number of atoms in the element disintegrate.

I: Isobaric process: In which pressure remains constant.

Isochoric process: In which volume remains constant.

Isothermal process: In which temperature remains constant.

J: Joule: The unit of work and energy, 1J = 1N-m.

K: Kilocalorie: The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by 1, 1 Kcal =
1000 calories.

L: Luminosity: The total amount of energy radiated each second from the surface of a source.

M: Mean life: The average time during which a system, such as an atom, nucleus, exists in a specified form.

N: Natural frequency: The frequency, with which a system oscillates in the absence of external forces, it depends on
the size, composition, and shape of the object.

O: Optical fiber: A long, thin thread of fused silica, used to transmit light, based on total internal reflection.

P: Plasticity: The property of a solid whereby it undergoes a permanent change in shape or size when subjected to a
stress.

Q: Quanta: Fixed amounts; usually referring to fixed amounts of energy absorbed or emitted by matter.

R: Radiation: The emission and propagation of waves transmitting energy through space or through some medium.

S: Solenoid: A cylindrical coil of wire that becomes electromagnetic when a current flows through it.

T: Trough: The point of maximum negative displacement on a transverse wave.

U: Ultrasonic Sound: Sound waves of frequencies above 20,000Hz.

V: Vibration: A back and forth motion that repeats itself.

W: Work: Work is done when force acting on a body displaces it. Work = Force x Displacement in the direction of
the force.

X: X-ray: Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum.
Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass through most objects
and can expose photographic film.

Y: Young's modulus of elasticity: The ratio of normal stress to the longitudinal strain produced in a body.

Z: Zeeman Effect: The splitting of the spectral lines in a spectrum when the source is exposed to a magnetic field.