M-S

Magnetic Alignment

is the process by which the magnetic moments of atoms or molecules orient themselves in a uniform direction in response to an external magnetic field.

Magnetic Dipole

is a magnetic entity characterized by a north and south pole, capable of interacting with external magnetic fields.

Magnetic Dipole Movement

refers to the rotation of a magnetic dipole in response to an external magnetic field, aligning itself with the field direction.

Magnetic Domains

are regions within a magnetic material where the magnetic moments are aligned in the same direction, contributing to the overall magnetization.

Magnetic Fields

are the regions around a magnet where magnetic force is exerted, influencing other magnetic materials and charged particles.

Magnetic Force

is the attraction or repulsion between magnetic materials and is caused by the interaction of their magnetic fields.

Magnetic Levitation

is a method by which an object is suspended above a surface without any physical support, using magnetic fields to counteract the effects of gravity.

Magnetic Permeability

is a measure of how easily a magnetic field can penetrate a material, influencing the material's magnetic properties.

magnetism

is the phenomenon by which materials exert attractive or repulsive forces on each other due to their magnetic fields, fundamentally arising from the motion of electric charges.

magnification

is the process of enlarging the appearance of an object using optical instruments, allowing for greater detail to be observed.

mass defect

is the difference between the total mass of an atomic nucleus and the individual masses of its constituent protons and neutrons, which accounts for the binding energy that holds the nucleus together.

mass number

is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus, representing a key property that helps distinguish isotopes of an element.

mass-energy equivalence

is the principle that mass and energy are interchangeable, expressed by the famous equation E=mc², demonstrating that a small amount of mass can be converted into a large amount of energy.

maxwell’s equations

are a set of four fundamental equations in electromagnetism that describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated and altered by each other as well as by charges and currents.

michelson interferometer

is an optical instrument used to measure the interference of light waves, allowing precise measurements of light wavelengths and refractive indices.

Microwaves

are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from one meter to one millimeter, used in various applications including cooking and telecommunications.

mirror equations

describe the relationship between object distance, image distance, and focal length in mirror systems.

momentum

is a measure of the quantity of motion an object has, typically calculated as the product of an object's mass and velocity.

monochromatic light

is light that has a single wavelength and color. It is often used in lasers and optical applications.

monopole field

a field generated by a single magnetic or electric charge, differing from the dipole field in its symmetry and properties.

motors

a type of electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

motors

are devices that create motion by utilizing electrical energy to produce rotational or linear force.

multimeters

devices used to measure voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits.

negative change

is a decrease in voltage or current in an electrical circuit.

net force

is the overall force acting on an object, taking into account both magnitude and direction. It determines the object's acceleration based on Newton's second law of motion.

neutron

a subatomic particle with no electric charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.

Newton’s first law

states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by a net external force.

newtons third law

asserts that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, meaning that forces always occur in pairs.

newtons second law

states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass, often expressed with the equation F=ma.

Newton’s law of universal gravitation

describes the gravitational attraction between two masses, stating that every point mass attracts every other point mass with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

normal force

the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it, acting perpendicular to the surface.

normal line

a line that is perpendicular to a given line or surface at a specified point.

Ohm’s law

describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit, stating that the current is directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance.

ohm-meter

a unit of electrical resistance that defines the resistance of a conductor when one volt produces one ampere of current.

ohms

the standard unit of electrical resistance, symbolized by the Greek letter omega (Ω). It quantifies how much a conductor opposes the flow of electric current.

open circuit

a circuit without a complete path for current to flow, resulting in no current being able to pass through.

open switch

A switch that is in a position that interrupts the flow of current, creating an open circuit.

Parallel circuits

A type of electrical circuit where multiple paths are available for current to flow, allowing it to divide among the branches.

parallel connection

A method of connecting electrical components where they share the same voltage but can operate independently, allowing current to divide among the components.

parallel-plat capacitor

A type of capacitor in which the conductive plates are arranged parallel to each other, allowing for increased capacitance by maximizing the surface area.

Paramagnetism

A form of magnetism exhibited by materials that are weakly attracted to a magnetic field when uncharged. This effect occurs due to the presence of unpaired electrons.

period

A form of magnetism occurring in materials that are weakly attracted by a magnetic field, typically due to unpaired electrons.

periodic waves

Waves that repeat at regular intervals in time or space, characterized by a repeating pattern and defined wavelength and frequency.

permanent magnet

A type of magnet that maintains a persistent magnetic field and does not require an external power source to generate magnetism.

permeability of free space

The measure of the ability of a material or vacuum to support the formation of a magnetic field within itself, represented by the symbol μ0.

phase change

The process in which a substance transitions from one state of matter to another, such as solid to liquid or liquid to gas, typically involving energy transfer.

Plank’s constant

the lowest possible unit of measurement

plane mirror

A plane mirror is a flat surface that reflects light, creating a mirror image of whatever is placed in front of it. The image appears to be the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it, and the reflections maintain the same size and orientation as the object.

point charges

Point charges are charged particles that are treated as having no size and are concentrated at a single point in space. They are often used in electrostatics to simplify the analysis of forces and fields created by electric charges.

polarization of light

The restriction of the vibrations of light waves to a single plane.

polarization of charge

The separation of electric charges within an object, resulting in a positively charged side and a negatively charged side

Positron

The antimatter counterpart of an electron, having the same mass as an electron but a positive charge.

positive charge

A type of electric charge that causes an object to repel other positively charged objects and attract negatively charged objects.

potential energy

The energy possessed by an object because of its position or state.

power

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, measured in watts (W).

pressure-volume diagrams

A graphical representation showing the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas during a thermodynamic process.

Principal axis

An imaginary line that passes through the center of curvature of a lens or mirror, about which the lens or mirror's shape is symmetrical.

qualitative/quanatative

Descriptive data that characterizes qualities or attributes. / Numerical data that can be measured and expressed mathematically.

translation

The movement of an object from one position to another without rotation.

quantum

The smallest discrete quantity of any physical property, often associated with the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels.

quantum mechanics

A fundamental theory in physics that describes the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms

quarks

Elementary particles and fundamental constituents of matter that combine to form protons and neutrons, which are found in atomic nuclei.