Vijay Shankar Sharma
Textbook physics terms. Not a BFUT reinterpretation. 371 terms. Textbook meanings only.
9 terms. Page 1 of 1.
quantum · intro
A region of space that is largely devoid of matter, containing far fewer particles than the surrounding environment, though a perfect vacuum with absolutely no particles is never achieved in practice, even in the depths of interstellar space. In quantum field theory, even an idealized vacuum is not entirely empty, since quantum fields still exhibit fluctuations, giving rise to phenomena such as the theoretical prediction of virtual particles and zero-point energy.
quantum · intro
An electron occupying the outermost energy shell of an atom, which participates directly in forming chemical bonds with other atoms. The number of valence electrons an atom has largely determines its chemical properties and its position within a group on the periodic table. In metals, valence electrons are often loosely bound and free to move throughout the material, which is why metals conduct electricity well.
thermo · intermediate
A relatively weak attractive force that exists between neutral atoms or molecules, arising from temporary fluctuations in electron distribution that create brief, shifting regions of positive and negative charge, which then induce corresponding shifts in neighboring molecules. Although much weaker than chemical bonds, van der Waals forces are responsible for phenomena such as the ability of geckos to cling to smooth surfaces and the condensation of gases like noble gases into liquids at low temperatures.
math-methods · intro
A physical quantity that has both a magnitude and a specific direction, requiring more than a single number to fully describe it, in contrast to a scalar, which has magnitude alone. Force, velocity, and acceleration are all vector quantities, typically represented graphically as arrows, with the arrow's length indicating magnitude and its orientation indicating direction. Vectors are combined using specific rules of vector addition rather than simple arithmetic.
mechanics · intro
A vector quantity describing both the speed of an object and the direction in which it is moving, calculated as the rate of change of an object's position over time. Unlike speed, which is a scalar, velocity fully specifies motion, so two objects moving at the same speed but in different directions have different velocities. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity over time.
quantum · intermediate
A theoretical concept in quantum field theory representing a temporary, fleeting disturbance in a quantum field that mediates interactions between real particles but does not itself satisfy the usual energy-momentum relationship required for an observable particle, existing only for an extremely brief time allowed by the uncertainty principle. Virtual particles are a useful calculational tool in Feynman diagrams, representing the exchange processes, such as photon exchange, that produce forces between particles.
mechanics · intro
A measure of a fluid's internal resistance to flow, or its thickness, arising from friction between adjacent layers of the fluid as they move at different speeds relative to each other. Honey has a much higher viscosity than water, meaning it flows far more sluggishly. Viscosity generally decreases with increasing temperature in liquids, which is why oil flows more easily when warm, and it plays a central role in fluid dynamics and engineering applications like lubrication.
optics · intro
The narrow portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can detect, spanning wavelengths from roughly 380 nanometers, perceived as violet, to about 700 nanometers, perceived as red. Visible light represents only a tiny fraction of the full electromagnetic spectrum, yet it is the primary way humans and many other organisms gather information about their surroundings, since it is the range most strongly emitted by the Sun and least absorbed by Earth's atmosphere.
em · intro
The SI unit of electric potential difference, or voltage, defined as the potential difference that would impart one joule of energy to a charge of one coulomb passing between two points. Named after Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, inventor of the first chemical battery, the volt is a standard measurement used throughout electrical engineering and everyday electronics, from small batteries rated at a few volts to power lines carrying hundreds of thousands of volts.