Key Terms: Letter C

Calories

A unit of energy defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius, with 1 calorie = 4.184 joules.

Capacitance

The ability of a capacitor to store electric charge per unit voltage, measured in farads (F).

Carbon-14

A radioactive isotope of carbon with six protons and eight neutrons, commonly used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of ancient organic materials.

Carnot Cycle

An idealized thermodynamic cycle consisting of two isothermal and two adiabatic processes that define the maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine.

Center of Curvature

The center of the spherical surface from which a curved mirror or lens is a segment, located at a distance equal to the radius of curvature from the mirror or lens.

Centripetal Force

The net force directed toward the center of a circular path that keeps an object moving in uniform circular motion.

Charge

A fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience electromagnetic forces, existing in two types—positive and negative—measured in coulombs (C).

Charge Separation

The process by which positive and negative charges within a system become spatially separated, creating an electric potential difference.

Charged Particles

Particles that possess an electric charge, such as protons, electrons, and ions, and interact with electric and magnetic fields.

Charging by Conduction

The process of transferring electric charge between objects through direct contact, resulting in both objects sharing the same type of charge.

Charles’ Law

States that, at constant pressure, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin.

Circuits

Closed paths through which electric current flows, typically consisting of a power source, conductors, and electrical components such as resistors or capacitors.

Classical Physics

Refers to the branch of physics that includes the laws of motion, gravitation, and thermodynamics, primarily developed before the advent of quantum mechanics and relativity.

Combustion Processes

Chemical reactions in which a substance reacts with oxygen, typically releasing energy in the form of heat and light.

Compton Radiation

Refers to the scattering of X-rays or gamma rays by electrons, resulting in a shift to longer wavelengths (lower energy) and demonstrating the particle-like nature of light.

Concave Lens

A lens that is thinner at the center than at the edges, causing parallel light rays to diverge and produce a virtual, diminished image.

Concave Mirrors

Curved mirrors with an inwardly curved reflective surface, which can converge parallel light rays to a focal point.

Conduction

The transfer of heat or electricity through a material without the movement of the material itself, typically occurring through direct contact between particles.

Crest

The highest point of a wave, representing the maximum displacement of the medium in the direction of wave propagation.

Conservation of Electric Charge

States that the total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant, regardless of the processes occurring within the system.

Conservation of Electric Energy

States that the total electric energy in an isolated system remains constant, as energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred or converted.

Conservation of Energy

States that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another, with the total energy in a closed system remaining constant.

Conventional Current

The flow of positive charge, moving from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a power source, used to represent the direction of current in a circuit.