Environmental Physics Term 1

Lecture Notes

Units

Standard measures used to express a physical quantity. They are well-defined, internationally accepted, and invariant with time and place.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion. It is calculated as 1/2 times the mass of an object times its velocity squared.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to the force of gravity. It is calculated as the product of the density of the fluid, acceleration due to gravity, and the height of the fluid column.

Conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct heat or electricity. Thermal conductivity measures heat conduction, while hydraulic conductivity measures the flow of water through a porous medium.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. It is a key mechanism of mass transfer in environmental systems.