Foundations of Physics
63 terms · page 1 of 3
Absolute Uncertainty
The margin of measurement error expressed in the same physical units as the quantity being measured.
Foundations of PhysicsAbsolute Zero
The theoretical lower limit of thermodynamic temperature, defined as 0 Kelvin (-273.15°C or -459.67°F).
Foundations of PhysicsAccuracy
The degree of closeness of a measured value or experimental result to the true or accepted reference value.
Foundations of PhysicsAmpere
The SI base unit of electric current, defined by fixing the elementary charge to e = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.
Foundations of PhysicsAvogadro's Number
The exact number of elementary entities (atoms, molecules, ions) contained in one mole of a substance.
Foundations of PhysicsBase Units
The set of seven mutually independent fundamental units of measurement defined by the International System of Units.
Foundations of PhysicsBoltzmann Constant
The fundamental constant that converts thermodynamic temperature into microstate kinetic energy per particle.
Foundations of PhysicsCandela
The SI base unit of luminous intensity in a given direction, defined by fixing the luminous efficacy of 540 THz monochromatic radiation to…
Foundations of PhysicsCartesian Coordinates
An orthogonal coordinate system that specifies point locations in space using signed distance projections along mutually perpendicular axes…
Foundations of PhysicsCentre of Mass
The unique spatial point representing the mean mass-weighted position of a physical system or extended rigid body.
Foundations of PhysicsCombining Uncertainties
The mathematical rules used to propagate individual measurement uncertainties into calculated final results.
Foundations of PhysicsControl Variable
Any experimental parameter held strictly constant throughout an investigation to isolate the relationship between independent and dependent…
Foundations of PhysicsCylindrical Coordinates
A 3D coordinate system combining 2D polar coordinates (r, θ) in the transverse plane with a linear vertical height axis z.
Foundations of PhysicsDensity
The mass per unit volume of a substance under specified temperature and pressure conditions.
Foundations of PhysicsDependent Variable
The factor measured or observed in an experiment that changes in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
Foundations of PhysicsDerived Units
Units of measurement formed as algebraic combinations of the seven fundamental SI base units.
Foundations of PhysicsDimensional Analysis
An analytical method used to verify equation consistency and establish mathematical relationships between physical quantities by examining…
Foundations of PhysicsElementary Charge
The fundamental electric charge carried by a single proton, or the absolute value of charge carried by a single electron.
Foundations of PhysicsEnergy
The quantitative property that must be transferred to a physical system to perform work on it, or to heat it.
Foundations of PhysicsFrame of Reference
A coordinate system along with a clock used to record positions, velocities, and times of physical events.
Foundations of PhysicsFundamental Constants
Universal physical quantities whose numerical values are constant in space and time throughout the cosmos.
Foundations of PhysicsGravitational Constant
The empirical physical constant relating the gravitational force between two masses to their product and inverse-square separation.
Foundations of PhysicsGravitational Mass
A measure of the strength of the gravitational force exerted or experienced by an object in a gravitational field.
Foundations of PhysicsHypothesis
A proposed, testable explanation for an observed physical phenomenon, serving as the starting point for experimental investigation.