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842 terms · page 16 of 36
Inelastic Collision
A collision in which total linear momentum is conserved, but total kinetic energy is not conserved.
Classical MechanicsInertia
The natural resistance of any physical object to any change in its velocity or state of motion.
Plasma PhysicsInertial Confinement Fusion
A fusion energy approach that uses intense laser or ion beam pulses to rapidly compress and heat a millimeter-scale fuel capsule to fusion…
Foundations of PhysicsInertial Mass
A measure of an object's intrinsic resistance to changes in its velocity when subjected to a net force.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsInsolation
The solar electromagnetic radiation power reaching a specified surface area per unit time.
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsIntensive vs Extensive Properties
Classification of thermodynamic properties based on whether they depend on system size or amount of matter.
Plasma PhysicsInterchange & Flute Instabilities
A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability where high-pressure plasma and low-density magnetic fields interchange spatial positions in regions…
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsInternal Energy
The total microscopic energy contained within a thermodynamic system, comprising kinetic energies of particle…
Condensed Matter & Materials PhysicsIntrinsic Semiconductor
An ultra-pure semiconductor crystal containing no significant dopant impurity species, where carrier concentration is determined purely by…
Biophysics & Medical PhysicsIon Channels
Pore-forming transmembrane proteins that allow selective passive passage of specific ions down their electrochemical gradient.
Plasma PhysicsIonization Energy
The minimum energy required to detach an electron from a neutral atom or ion, initiating gas-to-plasma phase transformation.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIonosphere
An ionized layer of Earth's upper atmosphere (~60 km to 1,000 km) where extreme solar UV and X-ray radiation ionize atmospheric gas atoms…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIonospheric Scintillation
Rapid fluctuations in amplitude and phase of satellite radio signals caused by small-scale electron density irregularities in the…
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsIsobaric Process
A thermodynamic change in state occurring under constant pressure conditions.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsIsobars
Nuclides of different chemical elements that share the exact same mass number A (total number of nucleons) while having different atomic…
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsIsochoric Process
A thermodynamic process occurring at constant volume, during which no mechanical boundary work is performed.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsIsostasy
The state of gravitational equilibrium between Earth's lithospheric crust blocks floating at depths determined by their thickness and…
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsIsothermal Process
A thermodynamic change in state occurring at a constant temperature throughout the system.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsIsotones
Nuclides of different chemical elements that share the exact same number of neutrons N = A - Z while possessing different proton numbers Z.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsIsotopes
Variants of a particular chemical element that possess identical atomic numbers Z (same number of protons) but different mass numbers A…
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsJacobian Matrix
A matrix of all first-order partial derivatives of a vector-valued multivariable function, representing local linear coordinate…
Condensed Matter & Materials PhysicsJosephson Effect
The quantum tunneling of Cooper pairs across a thin insulating barrier separating two superconductors (a Josephson junction).
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsJoule Heating
The process in which the flow of electric current through a conductor generates thermal energy due to electrical resistance.
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsJoule-Thomson Effect
The temperature change experienced by a real gas when throttled through an insulated porous plug or valve at constant enthalpy.