Physics - High School

material in a nuclear reactor that absorbs radiation

radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle

a positively charged particle that is the nucleus of the helium atom; emitted from natural or radioactive isotopes

an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally

the basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

the act of increasing voltage or power or current

the angle between a reflected ray and a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence

a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239)

the property of an atom that causes it to have weight

quantity of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element

(chemistry) the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units

radiation coming from sources other than those being observed

a magnet in the form of a bar with magnetic poles at each end

radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle

a high-speed electron or positron emitted in the decay of a radioactive isotope

the energy required to separate particles from a molecule or atom or nucleus; equals the mass defect

electric phenomena in animals or plants

a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it burns

the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light

an electrical device characterized by its capacity to store an electric charge

the point within something at which gravity can be considered to act; in uniform gravity it is equal to the center of mass

the inward force on a body moving in a curved path around another body

a self-sustaining nuclear reaction

the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body

French physicist famous for his discoveries in the field of electricity and magnetism; formulated Coulomb's Law (1736-1806)

United States electrical engineer and inventor

that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction

a complete electrical circuit around which current flows or a signal circulates

a visual attribute of things from the light they emit

the fundamental principle of physics that the total energy of an isolated system is constant despite internal changes

the principle that the total linear momentum in a closed system is constant and is not affected by processes occurring inside the system

a unit of electrical charge equal to the amount of charge transferred by a current of 1 ampere in 1 second

an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

change in the apparent frequency of a wave as observer and source move toward or away from each other

the phenomenon of resistance to motion

potential energy that is stored when a body is deformed

potential energy that is stored when a body is deformed

the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons

a flow of electricity through a conductor

a field of force surrounding a charged particle

the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow

energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor

a temporary magnet made by coiling wire around an iron core

pertaining to or exhibiting magnetism produced by electric charge in motion

radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge

the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves

radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge

the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts

a unit of energy equal to the work done by an electron accelerated through a potential difference of 1 volt

concerned with or producing or caused by static electricity

electric field associated with static electric charges

the branch of physics that deals with static electricity

Italian nuclear physicist (in the United States after 1939) who worked on artificial radioactivity caused by neutron bombardment and who headed the group that in 1942 produced the first controlled nuclear reaction (1901-1954)

British physicist (born in New Zealand) who discovered the atomic nucleus and proposed a nuclear model of the atom (1871-1937)

phenomenon exhibited by materials like iron (nickel or cobalt) that become magnetized in a magnetic field and retain their magnetism when the field is removed

space around a radiating body within which it exerts force

the fundamental principle of physics that the total energy of an isolated system is constant despite internal changes

light emitted during absorption of radiation of some other (invisible) wavelength

the ideal motion of something subject only to gravity

cell that produces electricity by oxidation of fuel

electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength

electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength

energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth

a field of force surrounding a body of finite mass

the force of attraction between all masses in the universe

the time required for something to fall to half its initial value (in particular, the time for half the atoms in a radioactive substance to disintegrate)

unit of frequency with a periodic interval of one second

(physics) the principle that (within the elastic limit) the stress applied to a solid is proportional to the strain produced

of or relating to or used in the production of electricity by waterpower

electricity produced by water power

a nuclear weapon that releases atomic energy by union of light (hydrogen) nuclei at high temperatures to form helium

the lagging of an effect behind its cause

a simple machine for elevating objects

an electrical device (typically a conducting coil) that introduces inductance into a circuit

having or employing wavelengths longer than light but shorter than radio waves; lying outside the visible spectrum at its red end

electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves

electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves

the condition of being dissociated into ions

convert into ions

high-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes

expose to radiation

a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight

Scottish physicist whose equations unified electricity and magnetism and who recognized the electromagnetic nature of light (1831-1879)

a unit of power equal to 1000 watts

the branch of mechanics concerned with motion without reference to force or mass

the fundamental principle of physics that the total energy of an isolated system is constant despite internal changes

the component of the aerodynamic forces acting on an airfoil that opposes gravity

electromagnetic radiation that can produce visual sensation

Swedish physicist (born in Austria) who worked in the field of radiochemistry with Otto Hahn and formulated the concept of nuclear fission with Otto Frisch (1878-1968)

the power output of a generator or power plant

the magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction)

French nuclear physicist who generalized the wave-particle duality by proposing that particles of matter exhibit wavelike properties (1892-1987)

the lines of force surrounding a permanent magnet or a moving charged particle

a measure of the strength of a magnetic field over a given area

attraction for iron

the torque exerted on a magnet or dipole when it is placed in a magnetic field

either of two points where the lines of force of the Earth's magnetic field are vertical

French chemist who won two Nobel prizes

the amount by which the mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its constituent particles

the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in an atomic nucleus

the ratio of the force exerted by a machine to the force applied to it

energy in a mechanical form

the English physicist and chemist who discovered electromagnetic induction (1791-1867)

a relatively short electromagnetic wave used for cooking food

the state of having a surplus of electrons

a body remains at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force

the rate of change of momentum is proportional to the imposed force and goes in the direction of the force

action and reaction are equal and opposite

United States electrical engineer and inventor (born in Croatia but of Serbian descent) who discovered the principles of alternating currents and developed the first alternating-current induction motor and the Tesla coil and several forms of oscillators (1856-1943)

that can not be renewed

the energy released by a nuclear reaction

a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

(physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei

(physics) any of several kinds of apparatus that maintain and control a nuclear reaction for the production of energy or artificial elements

a constituent (proton or neutron) of an atomic nucleus

the branch of physics that studies the internal structure of atomic nuclei

electric current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance; I = E/R

an incomplete electrical circuit in which no current flows

a harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency

a closed circuit in which the current divides into two or more paths before recombining to complete the circuit

motion that recurs over and over and the period of time required for each recurrence remains the same

a magnet that retains its magnetism after being removed from a magnetic field

a machine that can continue to do work indefinitely without drawing energy from some external source; impossible under the law of conservation of energy

of or pertaining to photoelectricity

electricity generated by light or affected by light

a cell that converts solar energy into electrical energy

the state of having a deficiency of electrons

an elementary particle with positive charge

the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts

a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material

energy that is transmitted in the form of radiation

an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between 0.5 cm to 30,000 m

the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation

a radioactive isotope of an element

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current

an electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current

a variable quantity that cannot be resolved into components

the physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions

counter tube in which light flashes when exposed to ionizing radiation

a law stating that mechanical work can be derived from a body only when that body interacts with another at a lower temperature; any spontaneous process results in an increase of entropy

a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities

a circuit having its parts connected serially

a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point

a cell that converts solar energy into electrical energy

energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy

a heater that makes direct use of solar energy

radiation from the sun

(acoustics) a wave that transmits sound

a wave (as a sound wave in a chamber or an electromagnetic wave in a transmission line) in which the ratio of its instantaneous amplitude at one point to that at any other point does not vary with time

electricity produced by friction

the placement of one thing on top of another

the strength of material expressed as the greatest longitudinal stress it can bear without tearing apart

the constant maximum velocity reached by a body falling through the atmosphere under the attraction of gravity

a state in which all parts of a system are at the same temperature

United States inventor

the fourth coordinate required to specify a physical event

(radiology) any radioactive isotope introduced into the body to study metabolism or other biological processes

the change of one chemical element into another

radiation lying in the ultraviolet range

radiation lying in the ultraviolet range

(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

a unit of power equal to 1 joule per second

(physics) the property of matter and electromagnetic radiation that is characterized by the fact that some properties can be explained best by wave theory and others by particle theory

a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

hoist so arranged that a rope unwinding from a wheel is wound onto a cylindrical drum or shaft coaxial with the wheel

power derived from the wind (as by windmills)

a manifestation of energy

electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target