Browse the dictionary
842 terms · page 35 of 36
Wave Function
A complex-valued mathematical function containing all the physical information about the state of an isolated quantum mechanical system.
Waves, Oscillations & AcousticsWave Number
A spatial frequency measure expressing the number of radians or wave cycles per unit distance.
Waves, Oscillations & AcousticsWave Packet
A short localized burst or envelope of wave energy formed by the superposition of multiple waves with slightly different frequencies.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsWave-Particle Duality
The fundamental quantum mechanical principle stating that every subatomic entity exhibits both wave-like and particle-like behavior…
Waves, Oscillations & AcousticsWaveform
The visual shape or graph of a signal or wave as a function of time or spatial position.
Nuclear & Particle PhysicsWeak Nuclear Force
The short-range fundamental interaction responsible for flavor-changing particle transformations, neutrino interactions, and radioactive…
Biophysics & Medical PhysicsWeber-Fechner Law
A psychophysical law stating that human subjective sensory perception is proportional to the logarithm of the physical stimulus intensity.
Foundations of PhysicsWeight
The downward gravitational force exerted on an object's mass by a surrounding gravitational field.
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsWheatstone Bridge
An electrical bridge network consisting of four resistor arms used to measure an unknown electrical resistance with high precision.
Plasma PhysicsWhistler Waves
A right-hand circularly polarized electromagnetic wave mode propagating along magnetic field lines in a magnetized plasma below electron…
Astrophysics, Cosmology & RelativityWhite Dwarf
The dense stellar remnant remaining after a low-to-medium mass star exhausts its core nuclear fuel and sheds its outer layers.
Thermodynamics & Statistical PhysicsWien's Displacement Law
The physical law stating that peak emission wavelength of a blackbody spectrum is inversely proportional to its absolute temperature.
Classical MechanicsWork
The scalar energy transferred to or from an object by a force acting through a displacement.
Condensed Matter & Materials PhysicsWork Hardening
The strengthening of a metal by plastic deformation, caused by dislocation multiplication and entanglement obstructing further slip.
Classical MechanicsWork-Energy Theorem
The principle stating that net work done by all forces acting on an object equals the net change in its kinetic energy.
Astrophysics, Cosmology & RelativityWormhole
A hypothetical topological feature of spacetime creating a shortcut connecting two separate points in space and time.
Biophysics & Medical PhysicsX-Ray Crystallography in Biology
An experimental biophysical technique determining the 3D atomic structure of biological macromolecules from X-ray diffraction patterns of…
Biophysics & Medical PhysicsX-ray Imaging
A diagnostic medical imaging modality using differential photoelectric attenuation of X-rays passing through human tissue to form 2D…
OpticsYoung's Double Slit Experiment
The classic experiment demonstrating wave-particle duality and wave nature of light via interference fringes produced by coherent light…
Condensed Matter & Materials PhysicsYoung's Modulus
A mechanical property measuring the tensile or compressive stiffness of a solid material in its linear elastic deformation regime.
Plasma PhysicsZ-Pinch
A plasma confinement geometry where an axial electric current passed through a plasma column generates a self-pinching azimuthal magnetic…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsZeeman Effect
The splitting of atomic spectral lines into multiple closely spaced components in the presence of an external static magnetic field.
Electromagnetism & ElectronicsZener Diode
A heavily doped silicon p-n junction diode designed to operate safely in reverse breakdown mode to maintain a precise reference voltage.
Foundations of PhysicsZero Error
A systematic error that occurs when a measuring instrument displays a non-zero reading when the actual quantity being measured is zero.