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842 terms · page 29 of 36
Reversed Field Pinch (RFP)
A toroidal magnetic confinement device in which the toroidal magnetic field self-reverses direction near the outer edge of the plasma…
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsReversible Process
An idealized thermodynamic process that can be reversed by infinitesimal changes in system variables without leaving any net trace on…
Classical MechanicsReynolds Number
A dimensionless quantity in fluid mechanics predicting flow patterns, equal to ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces.
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsRichter Scale
A base-10 logarithmic scale quantifying earthquake magnitude based on the maximum amplitude of seismic waves recorded on a seismograph.
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsRL Circuit
An electrical circuit containing resistors and inductors, characterized by an exponential delay in current growth and decay governed by…
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsRLC Circuit & Resonance
An electrical circuit containing a resistor, inductor, and capacitor whose total impedance reaches a minimum at the resonant frequency.
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsRMS Current
The Root-Mean-Square value of an alternating current (AC), representing the equivalent direct current (DC) that delivers equal average…
Classical MechanicsRotational Kinetic Energy
The kinetic energy possessed by a body due to its rotation about an axis.
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsRound-off Error
The difference between the exact mathematical value of a function and the value computed using finite-precision floating-point arithmetic.
Mathematical & Computational PhysicsRunge-Kutta Methods
A family of iterative numerical integration algorithms used to solve ordinary differential equations with high accuracy.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsRydberg Constant
A fundamental physical constant expressing the limiting wavenumber of atomic spectral lines for infinitely heavy nuclei.
Plasma PhysicsSaha Ionization Equation
A thermodynamic relation expressing the ionization state of a plasma in thermal equilibrium as a function of temperature and electron…
Foundations of PhysicsScalar
A physical quantity that is completely specified by its magnitude (value and unit) alone, possessing no direction.
Foundations of PhysicsScalar Product
An algebraic vector operation that multiplies two vectors to yield a scalar equal to the product of their magnitudes and the cosine of the…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsSchrödinger Equation
A fundamental partial differential equation describing how the quantum wave function of a physical system evolves deterministically over…
Astrophysics, Cosmology & RelativitySchwarzschild Radius
The physical radius defining the event horizon of a non-rotating, spherically symmetric black hole of mass M.
Foundations of PhysicsScientific Law
A concise verbal or mathematical statement that describes a universal, consistently observed relationship in nature under specified…
Foundations of PhysicsScientific Method
An empirical, iterative process for investigating natural phenomena through observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and…
Foundations of PhysicsScientific Notation
A standardized method of expressing very large or very small numbers in the format a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10 and n is an integer.
Foundations of PhysicsScientific Theory
A comprehensive, well-substantiated explanation of a broad aspect of nature supported by extensive empirical evidence and repeated testing.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsScintillation Counter
A radiation detection instrument that measures ionizing radiation by detecting flashes of light (scintillations) produced in a luminescent…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsSea Level Rise
The ongoing increase in global mean sea level caused by thermal expansion of warming ocean water and meltwater input from glaciers and ice…
Geophysics & Environmental PhysicsSeafloor Spreading
The tectonic process occurring at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is created by upwelling mantle magma and moves laterally away.
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsSecond Law of Thermodynamics
The law asserting that spontaneous physical processes increase total entropy in isolated systems, placing fundamental limits on heat engine…