Physics

Question 1

Antimatter

Answer 1

• matter that consist of antiparticles, such as antiprotons, that have opposite charge from normal particles
• when matter meets antimatter, both are destroyed and their combined mass = energy
• e.g. certain decay process

Question 2

Atom

Answer 2

basic unit of chemical element

Question 3

Atomic mass

Answer 3

total mass of an atom of given element

Question 4

atomic number

Answer 4

the number of protons

Question 5

Axion

Answer 5

hypothetical subatomic particle with low mass and energy that is thought to exist bc of properties of the strong nuclear force

Question 6

Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC)

Answer 6

• super-atom made of of atoms super-cooled to with a few hundred millionth of degree of absolute zero and condenses into lowest energy state
• atoms in BEV behave at the same time, giving BEC wavelike properties

Question 7

Boson

Answer 7

• one of two primary categories of particles in the Standard Model
• Higgs boson and force carrying particles eg. photons, gluons, and the W and Z particles

Question 8

Dark energy

Answer 8

mysterious, undefined energy leading to a repulsive force pervading all space-time
- predicted to make up 68.3% of universe composition

Question 9

Dark matter

Answer 9

• hypothetical, invisible matter
• 26.8% of universe
• account for inexplicable gravitational force observed in space

Question 10

Doppler effect

Answer 10

change in frequency of sound, light, or radio waves caused by the motion of the source emitting the waves

Question 11

Electron

Answer 11

negatively charged particle that is the least massive electrically charged fundamental particle

Question 12

entropy

Answer 12

measure of disorder in a system

Question 13

Absolute Zero

Answer 13

theoretical temperature which all motion within a molecule stops, corresponds to 273.315ºC

Question 14

Fermion

Answer 14

any one of a number of matter particles including electrons, protons, neutrons, neutrinos, and quarks; one of the two primary categories of particles in Standard Mode, the other being bosons

Question 15

Field

Answer 15

the existence of physical effects such as forces (gravitational, electric, etc.) is visualized and described with math by physicists in terms of showing the strength and direction of a force at a given position

Question 16

fission

Answer 16

a nuclear reaction that occurs when the nuclei of large, unstable atom break apart, releasing large amount of energy

Question 17

fluorescence

Answer 17

luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiation at one wavelength followed by an almost immediate re-radiation, usually at a different wavelength, that stops almost immediate when the radiation stops

Question 18

force

Answer 18

cause acceleration in a body; can be thought of a push or pull

Question 19

fusion

Answer 19

a nuclear reaction occurring when atomic nuclei colliding at high temperatures and combine to form one heavier atomic nucleus, releasing enormous energy in the process

Question 20

gravity

Answer 20

attraction of force between two objects or particles, proportional to the mass (or energy) of the object

Question 21

half life

Answer 21

the time it takes for half of a given amount of radioactive element to decay

Question 22

Hertz (Hz)

Answer 22

measure of frequency, or how many times a given event occurs per second; applied to sound waves, electrical current, and microchip clock speeds

Question 23

higgs boson

Answer 23

a boson associated with a field accounting for the existence of mass in many particles

Question 24

light-emitted diodes (LED)

Answer 24

a semiconductor that emits light when an electrical current is passed through it

Question 25

Neutrino

Answer 25

a tiny fundamental particle with no electrical charge and very small mass that moves very quickly through the universe; comes in varities (flavors): electron, muon, and tau

Question 26

particle accelerator

Answer 26

a large machine with a circular or long, straight tunnel in which charged particles are accelerated to extremely high speeds

Question 27

phosphorescence

Answer 27

luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiation at one wavelength followed by a delayed re-radiation

Question 28

photon

Answer 28

the elementary unit, or quantum, of electromagnetic radiation, such as light

Question 29

plasma

Answer 29

a high-energy state of matter different from solid, liquid, or gas in which atomic nuclei and the electrons orbiting them separate

Question 30

quantum

Answer 30

a natural unit of some physically measurable property, such as energy or electrical charge

Question 31

quark

Answer 31

a fermion and a fundamental matter particle that makes up neutrons and protons, forming atomic nuclei; there are six different varieties pairs: up and down, charm and strange, and top and bottom

Question 32

radiation

Answer 32

energy emitted as ray or particles

e.g. heat, light, UV rays, gamma rays, x-rays, cosmic

Question 33

General theory of relativity

Answer 33

Theory of space and time by Albert Einstein in 1915, links gravity to the curvature of space-time

Question 34

Special theory of relativity

Answer 34

Einstein theory if space and time: all laws of physics are valid in all uniformity moving frame of reference, and the speed of light in vacuum is always the same, so long as source and the observer are moving uniformly (not accelerating)