PHYSICS DICTIONARY

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Enthalpy

It is heat function at constant pressure. Mathematically expression is H=U+PV; ‘U’ is internal energy; ‘P’ is pressure and ‘V’ is volume.


Entropy Maximum Principle

For an isolated system in state of equilibrium, the entropy attains maximum value and remains constant.


Entropy

The thermal property which remains constant during adiabatic process is called entropy.

(or)

 Measure of randomness or disorderliness of molecules.

(or)

 Index of unavailable energy of a system.


Epicenter

The point on the surface directly above the “focus” is called Epicenter.


Epitaxial Growth

The technique of growing an oriented single crystal layer on a substrate wafer is called epitaxial growth. The substrate crystal may be a wafer of same material as the grown layer or a different material with similar lattice structure. The methods which are adopted for this growth are i) Chemical vapor deposition. ii) Liquid phase epitaxy iii) Molecular beam epitaxy


Equal Apriori Probability

A fundamental postulate of statistical mechanics is that a macroscopic system in equilibrium is equally likely to be in any of its accessible microscopic states satisfying macroscopic conditions of system.

                                               (or)

The probability of finding the phase point for given system in any region of phase space is identical with that for any other region of equal extension or volume. 


Equation

A mathematical statement or formula which shows the equality of two expressions.


Equation of Continuity

For any incompressible & non-viscous fluid flowing steadily, the product of its velocity and area of crossection at all points during its flow through a tube remain constant.  Velocity of fluid is inversely proportional to area of crossection.


Equation of Motion of Rigid Body

Relationship between torque applied to rigid body and angular acceleration of body is known as equation of motion of rigid body.


Equation of State

An equation of state is a relation between state variables. It is a thermodynamic equation which describes the state of matter under a given set of physical conditions, typically relating energy, temperature, volume, and pressure. Equations of state are most commonly used to describe properties of fluids, such as liquids, gases and plasma though equations of state may also be applied to solids.


Equilibrium of a Rigid Body

If a rigid body is subjected to number of forces acting on it and has neither translatory nor rotatory motion, then it is said to be in equilibrium. Following conditions are satisfied in such a case:

i)      The algebraic sum of forces acting on it is zero (translational equilibrium)

ii)    The algebraic sum of moments of all the forces about any point is zero.(rotational equilibrium)


Equilibrium (Phase)

The state of system where the phase characteristics remain constant over indefinite time periods is called as equilibrium. At equilibrium the free energy is least. 


Equipartition of Energy

The theorem of equipartition of energy states that molecules in thermal equilibrium have same energy associated with each independent degree of freedom of their motion.


Equipotential Surface

Surface on which every point is at same potential and the electric field is at right angles to all these points.


Erecting Lens

An eye piece sometimes used in Kepler telescopes that consists of four lenses and provides an erect image, which is more convenient for viewing terrestrial objects than the inverted image provided by simpler eye pieces. 


Erecting Prism

It is a system of prisms that converts the inverted image formed by most types of astronomical telescopes to an erect image, also known as inverting prism.


Erg

It is unit of energy in CGS system of units. It is amount of work done by a force of one dyne exerted for a distance of one centimeter. 1erg=10-7 J.


Ergodic Hypothesis

The time average of some property of a system in equilibrium is same as instantaneous ensemble average.


Error

The difference between measured value and true value is called as error.


Escape Velocity

It is the minimum velocity with which a body should be projected from the surface of the planet so as to escape its gravitational field.

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Electrostatics

Branch of physics which deals with charges permanently fixed in space or in steady flow in a circuit.


Electrostriction

It is phenomenon of elastic deformation of dielectrics in an electric field. Electrostrictive strain is proportional to square of electric field strength and is independent of reversal of direction of electric field. Electrostriction is caused by die electric polarization in an electric field and occurs in all dielectrics, whether solid, liquid or gaseous. In solid dielectrics, electrostriction is very small and is of no practical importance.  


Element

Substance consisting of only one type of atoms that have same atomic number.


Elementary Charge

Electric charge carried by a single proton or electron. It is fundamental physical constant. This charge has a measured value of approximately  

1.602176565x10-19 coulombs. In CGS, system it is 4.80320425x10-10 stat coulomb.


Elementary Particle

Particles which are considered as not having sub structure i.e. irreducible constituent of matter.


Elliptically Polarized Light

Due to the superposition of two plane polarized light waves with a definite phase difference, the resultant light vector revolves with a varying amplitude periodically in a plane perpendicular to direction of propagation of light and the tip of light vector describes an ellipse. Light is called elliptically polarized light. 


EMF

 It is the influence which maintains permanent potential difference between the terminals of source, ensuring continuous supply of current. EMF is electrical energy of non electro static origin.


Emissivity

The ability of a surface to emit radiant energy compared to that of a black body at the same temperature and with same area. It is defined as the total amount of radiant energy emitted per second per unit area by a surface is called total emissivity of that surface.


Emission Spectrum

It is of 3 types i) Continuous spectrum   ii) line spectrum & iii) Band spectrum


Empirical

Scientific information acquired by means of experience or observation or experimentation without using scientific method or theory.


Electromagnetic Unit (emu)

Any unit that belongs to system of CGS units for electricity and magnetism based on system of equations in which permeability of free space is taken as unity.  


Endoergic

 See Endothermic reaction.


Endothermic Process

Chemical reactions for which energy absorption is must. They cannot occur spontaneously. Work must be done in order to get these reactions to occur. When endothermic reactions absorb energy, a temperature drop is measured during the reaction. Endothermic reactions are characterized by positive heat flow and an increase in enthalpy.


Energy Band

In solids, when atoms come within close proximity of one another, electrons are acted upon, or perturbed, by the electrons and nuclei of adjacent atoms. This influence is such that each distinct atomic state may split into a series of closely spaced electron states in the solid, to form what is termed electron energy band. The extent of splitting depends on inter atomic separation and begins with outermost electron shells since they are first to be perturbed as atoms coalesce. Within each band, energy states are discrete.  


Energy Density

It is the amount of energy stored in a given system or region of space per unit volume or mass.


Energy Level

Quantized states for particles in atom or nuclei.


Energy Minimum Principle

For an isolated system in state of equilibrium, energy reaches a minimum value and after that remains constant.


Energy of Dissociation

It is the energy required to dissociate two atoms of molecule in to an infinite separation.


Energy

It is ability to do work. Energy is an attribute of a physical object or of whatever is contained in a specific region of space.


Enrichment

A process of isotopic separation by which relative abundance of isotopes of a given element is altered, thus producing a form of element that has been enriched in one or more isotopes and depleted in others.


Ensemble

An ensemble is defined as a collection of large number of microscopically identical but essentially independent systems. 

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Electron Affinity

Amount of energy released when an electron is added to element to create anion.


Electron Diffraction

Electron diffraction is a collective scattering phenomenon with electrons being (nearly elastically) scattered by atoms in a regular array (crystal). This can be understood in analogy to the Huygens principle for the diffraction of light. The incoming plane electron wave interacts with the atoms, and secondary waves are generated which interfere with each other. This occurs either constructively (reinforcement at certain scattering angles generating diffracted beams) or destructively (extinguishing of beams). 


Electron Gas

Free electrons behavior in vacuum or metallic conductor.


Electron Gun

Arrangement to produce a fine beam of electrons accelerated to desired velocity.


Electron-Ion Pair

Ionization is the process of removing one or more electrons from a neutral atom. This results in the loss of units of negative charge by the affected atom. The atom becomes electrically positive (a positive ion). The products of a single ionizing event are called an electron-ion pair.


Electron Lens

It is a system which uses both electric and magnetic fields to focus a beam of electrons.


Electron Mass

Rest mass of electron is one of the fundamental constants of Physics. It is the mass of rest electron, the value of which is  9.11x10-31 Kg or ~ 0.51MeV/C2.


Electron Microscope

The electron microscope is a type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to create an image of the specimen. It is capable of much higher magnifications and has a greater resolving power than an optical microscope, allowing it to see much smaller objects in free details.


Electron Microscopy

Technique used to study the microstructure details of crystalline specimen. Electron microscope is capable of obtaining higher magnification. An image of structure under investigation is formed using beams of electrons instead of light radiation. According to quantum mechanics, a high velocity electron will become wave like, having a wavelength that is inversely proportional to its velocity. When accelerated across large voltages, electrons can be made to have wavelengths on order of 0.003nm. High magnifications and resolving powers of these microscopes are consequences of shorter wavelengths of electron beam. The electron beam is focused and image is formed with magnetic lens. Both transmission & reflection beam modes of operation are possible.    


Electron Spectroscopy

Electron spectroscopy is an analytical technique to study the electronic structure and its dynamics in atoms and molecules. In general, an excitation source such as X-rays, electrons  or synchrotron radiation will eject an electron from an inner-shell orbital of an atom. Detecting photoelectrons that are ejected by X-rays is called X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy  (XPS) or electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). Detecting electrons that are ejected from higher orbitals to conserve energy during electron transitions is called Auger electron spectroscopy (AES).


Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)

The paramagnetic substances which contain unpaired electrons when subjected to a magnetic field, the energy levels corresponding to an electron will split up. When we apply an oscillating field in perpendicular direction whose frequency lies in microwave region then resonance occurs and electrons in lower energy state will absorb energy giving rise to absorption spectra. The spectrum is known as ESR.


Electron State

It is one of a set of discrete, quantized energies that are allowed for electrons. In the atomic case, each state is specified by four quantum numbers.


Electron Volt

The energy gained by electron when put under potential difference of 1 volt. It is equal to 1.6 x 10-19 J.


Electronics

Branch of applied physics, which deals with devices made of semi-conductor materials having electrons/holes as charge carriers. The branch includes study and application of active/passive devices for various scientific and technology applications.


Electroplating

See electro deposition.


Electropositive

Chemical property which describes tendency of an atom to lose valance electrons.


Electroscope

It was the first electrical measuring instrument used to detect presence and magnitude of electric charge on a body.


Electrostatic Lens

Device used to focus electron beam.