CEFR C2 Vocabulary - Physics

a theoretical framework in physics that models fundamental particles not as point-like objects but as one-dimensional "strings" vibrating at different frequencies, with the potential to explain all fundamental forces and particles in the universe

the bending, spreading, and interference of waves as they encounter obstacles or pass through narrow openings, often observed in the behavior of light, sound, or other waves

a fundamental particle combining to form protons and neutrons, with fractional electric charge and six flavors

a fundamental particle with half-integer spin, including electrons and their heavier counterparts, as well as neutrinos

a composite particle composed of quarks held together by the strong force, including baryons (such as protons and neutrons) and mesons, and subject to the nuclear force

the speed at which something moves in a specific direction

(physics) the maximum distance a vibrating material, sound wave, etc. such as a pendulum travels from its first position

tiny particles that make up matter and have a property called spin, like the building blocks of atoms

a tiny particle with whole-number spin, such as photons or the Higgs boson, often associated with carrying fundamental forces or giving mass to other particles

the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed toward the center of the circle or the axis of rotation, preventing the object from moving in a straight line

the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer who is moving relative to the source of the wave, producing a shift in pitch or color

the energy possessed by an object due to its motion, defined as one-half the mass of the object multiplied by the square of its velocity, expressed by the equation KE = 0.5 * m * v^2

(physics) material existing in space that reflects no light, based on some theories

(physics) matter consisting of elementary particles that are the antiparticles of those of regular matter

(physics) the property of matter that gives it weight in a gravitational field and is a measure of its inertia

the smallest possible amount of a particular quantity that cannot be divided any further

(physics) the increase in velocity over time

the strength of a moving object determined by multiplying how heavy it is by how fast it is going

a fundamental particle of light that carries electromagnetic energy and exhibits both particle-like and wave-like properties

the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion, whether at rest or in uniform motion, and to remain in its current state unless acted upon by an external force

(physics) the back-and-forth motion of an object between two end points

the action or process where a wave, such as light or sound, bounces back from a surface instead of passing through

a measure of a material's stiffness or elasticity in physics

a theory stating that the exact position and momentum of a particle cannot be measured precisely at the same time

the unit of energy in the International System of Units

a very small, electrically neutral particle that rarely interacts with matter

the Theory that adds the notion of time to that of a three-dimensional space

the process or action of splitting a nucleus into two or more parts resulting in the release of a significant amount of energy

(physics) the reaction in which two nuclei join together and produce energy

referring to the combined interaction of electric and magnetic fields, often associated with waves or radiation