Glossary Terms - Education Companion

Aberration

Aberration is An optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image

Abscissa is The value of a coordinate on the horizontal axis

Absolute Scale is A temperature scale that defines absolute zero as 0 degrees; water freezes at 273.16 degrees and boils at

Absolute zero is The lowest temperature theoretically attainable (at which the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules is minimal); 0

Accuracy is The number of significant figures given in a number.

Action force is The force exerted by one body on a second body.

Adhesive forces, also known as adhesion, are Forces of attraction between molecules of different substances

Adiabatic: occurring without loss or gain of heat. In an adiabatic process, no heat is exchanged (Q = 0). The

Air pressure is the pressure exerted by the atmosphere

Alnico is a trade name for an alloy used to make high-energy permanent magnets; contains aluminium and iron and nickel

Alnico is the trade name for an alloy used to make high-energy permanent magnets; contains aluminium and iron and nickel plus

Amorphous solids: is a solid without real or apparent crystalline form. The lattice structure of an amorphous solid is an