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This glossary of physics is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to physics, its sub-disciplines, and related fields, including mechanics, materials science, nuclear physics, particle physics, and thermodynamics.
This is a glossary for the terminology often encountered in undergraduate quantum mechanics courses. Cautions: Different authors may have different definitions for the same term. The discussions are restricted to Schrödinger picture and non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Notation: | - position eigenstate
The word physics comes from the Latin physica ('study of nature'), which itself is a borrowing of the Greek φυσική (phusikḗ 'natural science'), a term derived from φύσις (phúsis 'origin, nature, property'). [6] [7] [8]
velocity in terms of the speed of light c: unitless beta particle: gamma: Lorentz factor: unitless photon: gamma ray: shear strain: radian heat capacity ratio: unitless surface tension: newton per meter (N/m) delta: change in a variable (e.g. ) unitless Laplace operator: per square meter (m −2)
In quantum mechanics, energy is defined in terms of the energy operator (Hamiltonian) as a time derivative of the wave function. The Schrödinger equation equates the energy operator to the full energy of a particle or a system. Its results can be considered as a definition of measurement of energy in quantum mechanics.
The branch of physics that studies electrical charges and electrical currents. electrolyte A liquid or solid medium that carries electric current in the form of ions. electromagnet A magnet that generates a magnetic field from an electric current. electromagnetic compatibility The control of unwanted electromagnetic interference ...
In the latter case flux can readily be integrated over a surface. By contrast, according to the electromagnetism definition, flux is the integral over a surface; it makes no sense to integrate a second-definition flux for one would be integrating over a surface twice. Thus, Maxwell's quote only makes sense if "flux" is being used according to ...
In the early 17th century, before Newton's Principia, the term "force" (Latin: vis) was applied to many physical and non-physical phenomena, e.g., for an acceleration of a point. The product of a point mass and the square of its velocity was named vis viva (live force) by Leibniz .