State of matterIn physics, a state of matter or phase of matter is one of the distinct forms in which matter can exist. Four states of matter are observable in everyday life: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Different states are distinguished by the ways the component particles (atoms, molecules, ions and electrons) are arranged, and how they behave collectively. In a solid, the particles are tightly packed and held in fixed positions, giving the material a definite shape and volume.
ElectronThe electron (e, or β in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle whose electric charge is negative one elementary charge. It is an elementary particle contained in the matter that makes up the universe. All atoms are composed of electrons, as well as varying numbers protons and neutrons, but the electrons have almost 2,000 times less mass than the other two constituents.
SuperconductivitySuperconductivity is a set of physical properties observed in superconductors: materials where electrical resistance is exactly zero and magnetic fields are expelled from the material. Unlike an ordinary metallic conductor, whose resistance decreases gradually as its temperature is lowered, even down to near absolute zero, a superconductor has a characteristic critical temperature below which the resistance drops abruptly to zero.
AntiferromagnetismAntiferromagnetism is a type of magnetic ordering, along with ferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism. In antiferromagnets the individual magnetic dipoles are oriented in a way such that the bulk of the material has a vanishing total magnetization. In the simplest model, as shown in the picture on the right, neighboring moments in an ordered lattice are oriented antiparallel to one another.
LiquidState of matter The formation of a spherical droplet of liquid water minimizes the surface area, which is the natural result of surface tension in liquids.SOLIDIn object-oriented programming and functional programming, SOLID is a mnemonicacronym for five principles intended to make source code more understandable, flexible, and maintainable. Although the principles apply to object-oriented programming, they also form a core philosophy for methodologies such as agile software development and adaptive software development.
ElectromagnetismIn physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interactions of atoms and molecules. Electromagnetism describes and relates the three distinct but closely intertwined phenomena of electricity, magnetism, and optics.
MatterSomething that has mass and volumeHydrogen in its plasma state is the most abundant ordinary matter in the universe.In physical science, matter is anything that has mass and occupies space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles.
Spin (physics)Spin is an intrinsic form of angular momentum carried by elementary particles, and thus by composite particles such as hadrons, atomic nuclei, and atoms. Spin is quantized, and accurate models for the interaction with spin require relativistic quantum mechanics or quantum field theory.
TemperaturePhysical quantity of hot and coldIn classical thermodynamics and kinetic theory, temperature reflects the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system, providing a quantitative measure of how energy is distributed among microscopic degrees of freedom. Temperature is measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various temperature scales that historically have relied on various reference points and thermometric substances for definition.PhysicsPhysics is the scientific study of matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. It is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines. A scientist who specializes in the field of physics is called a physicist. Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines.
AtomSmallest unit of a chemical elementAtoms are the basic particles of the chemical elements and the fundamental building blocks of matter. An atom consists of a nucleus of protons and generally neutrons, surrounded by an electromagnetically bound swarm of electrons. The chemical elements are distinguished from each other by the number of protons that are in their atoms. For example, any atom that contains 11 protons is sodium, and any atom that contains 29 protons is copper.
CryogenicsIn physics, cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures. The 13th International Institute of Refrigeration's (IIR) International Congress of Refrigeration (held in Washington, DC in 1971) endorsed a universal definition of "cryogenics" and "cryogenic" by accepting a threshold of 120 K (−153.15 °C) to distinguish these terms from conventional refrigeration.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.