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Terms starting with V

17 terms

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Condensed Matter & Materials Physics

Valence Band

The highest range of electron energy bands in a solid that is fully occupied by bound valence electrons at absolute zero temperature.

Occupied by valence electrons at T = 0 K eV (Energy Levels) Waves, Oscillations & Acoustics

Van der Pol Oscillator

A non-linear oscillator with non-linear damping that exhibits stable self-sustained limit cycle vibrations.

d²x/dt² - μ (1 - x²) dx/dt + x = 0 N/A Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics

Van der Waals Equation

An equation of state modifying the ideal gas law to account for finite molecular volume and attractive intermolecular forces in real gases.

(P + a n² / V²) (V - n b) = n R T Pa·m³ Mathematical & Computational Physics

Variational Principle

A fundamental physical principle asserting that true physical trajectories minimize or render stationary a scalar functional (such as…

δ S = δ ∫_t₁^t₂ L(q, q̇, t) dt = 0 (Hamilton's Principle) Stationary Action Principle Foundations of Physics

Vector

A physical quantity characterized by both a magnitude and a spatial direction.

A = Ax i + Ay j + Az k Various Mathematical & Computational Physics

Vector Calculus

A branch of mathematics dealing with multivariable differentiation and integration of vector fields in 3D Euclidean space.

∇f (Grad), ∇ · F (Div), ∇ × F (Curl), ∇²f (Laplacian) Differential Operators Foundations of Physics

Vector Components

The scalar projections of a vector along the mutually perpendicular axes of a coordinate system.

Ax = A cos θ, Ay = A sin θ Various Foundations of Physics

Vector Product

A vector operation multiplying two 3D vectors to yield a vector perpendicular to both, with magnitude equal to the area of the…

A × B = |A||B| sin θ n_hat Various Classical Mechanics

Velocity

A vector quantity expressing the time rate of change of position, possessing both speed and direction.

v = dr/dt m/s Foundations of Physics

Vernier Caliper

A precision measuring instrument utilizing a main scale and a sliding Vernier scale to measure linear dimensions with fine precision.

Reading = Main Scale + (Vernier Coincidence × Least Count) mm Waves, Oscillations & Acoustics

Vibration of Strings

Transverse standing wave resonances produced along stretched flexible strings fixed at both ends.

f_n = (n / 2L) √(T / μ), v = √(T / μ) Hz (T in N, μ in kg/m) Optics

Virtual Image

An optical image formed where light rays appear to diverge from, but do not actually intersect; cannot be projected on a screen.

v < 0 (for virtual image), m > 0 (upright) m Nuclear & Particle Physics

Virtual Particles

Transient quantum field fluctuations that mediate interactions between real particles, constrained in lifetime by the energy-time…

ΔE Δt ≥ ℏ / 2, q² ≠ m² c² (Off mass-shell) Transient Quantum Fluctuation Classical Mechanics

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid's internal resistance to gradual deformation by shear or tensile stress.

τ = η (dv/dy) Pa·s (kg/(m·s)) Optics

Visual Angle

The angle subtended at the eye's nodal point by an object, determining the size of the image formed on the retina.

θ ≈ h / d (in radians for small angles) rad (or arcminutes ') Plasma Physics

Vlasov Equation

The fundamental partial differential equation governing the evolution of the single-particle distribution function f(r, v, t) in a…

∂f / ∂t + v · ∇_r f + (q / m) (E + v × B) · ∇_v f = 0 Collisionless Kinetic Operator Electromagnetism & Electronics

Voltage

The electric potential difference between two points, defined as the work required per unit charge to move a positive test charge between…

V = W / q = I R V (Volts = J/C)