Glossary
Archimedes principle weight of an object submerged (completely or partially) in a fluid is lowered by the weight of the volume of fluid it displaces.
atmospheric pressure pressure exerted by the atmosphere. Though a function of weather conditions, standard pressure is defined as the pressure that will sustain a 760-mm column of mercury metal in a barometer. The SI equivalent of one atmosphere is 101.3kilopascals.
attractive forces pulls between objects causing them to resist separation from one another; usually used when discussing chemical bonds and attractions between atoms, ions, and/or molecules. boiling vigorous change from liquid to gaseous state characterized by formation of bubbles of vapor beneath the surface of the liquid.
boiling point temperature at which boiling occurs.
calorie unit of energy. One calorie is 4.18400 joules; this is about the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water at 15 °C by 1 °C.
capillary rise rise of a column of fluid in a tube, usually a cylindrical tube of small dimensions, due to the surface tension of the fluid.
closed system system in which there is no flow of energy or matter into or out from the systems, such as a covered, sealed, insulated ThermosÔ bottle.
condensation process of going from gas state to a condensed state, usually the liquid state.
contraction shrinkage of the dimensions of a solid or liquid due to temperature change, usually cooling.
cooling curve curve plotting temperature as a function of either energy removed or time.
critical temperature temperature above which only the gaseous state of a substance may exist regardless of the amount of pressure applied.
crystal lattice imaginary three dimensional array of points used to describe the positions of atoms in a crystal. density ratio of the mass of a system to its volume; an intensive property.
dynamic equilibrium situation characterized by changes in particular particles but with no net change in the total number of particles in a given state. Example might be a bank in which the total number of 20 dollar bills remains the same between open and close, and remains nearly constant throughout the banking day, but has bills with different serial numbers at the end of the day as compared with the beginning as the result of bank transactions.
expansion increase of the dimensions of a solid or liquid due to temperature change, usually by heating.
extensive properties properties that depend upon the amount of material measured, such as mass, volume, heat, area, and moles.
freezing change from the liquid to the solid state.
heat capacity the ability of a system to hold heat energy.
heat of fusion the amount of energy required to bring about the melting of a solid at its normal melting (freezing) temperature.
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