Scientific Glossary
All scientific terms used in FizziQ
A
Absolute Acceleration
Absolute acceleration includes gravitational acceleration, measuring the total acceleration experienced by an object inc...
Absolute Zero
Absolute zero is the lowest theoretically possible temperature, equal to -273.15°C or 0 Kelvin. At this temperature, par...
Absorbance
Absorbance measures the ability of a solution to absorb light. It is related to concentration by Beer-Lambert's law, cov...
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is a sensor that measures the acceleration of the object on which it is installed. It is commonly used ...
Acoustic Beat
Acoustic beats occur when two sound waves of slightly different frequencies combine, creating an oscillation in the perc...
Acoustic Intensity and Distance
Acoustic intensity decreases with the square of the distance from the source. Doubling the distance divides the intensit...
Acoustic Stopwatch
An acoustic stopwatch is a device that measures the elapsed time between two sounds whose sound level exceeds a certain ...
Active Noise Reduction
Active noise-canceling headphones use microphones to capture ambient noise from the external environment. They then use ...
Amplitude
Amplitude is the maximum displacement from equilibrium position in a wave or oscillation. For sound, it determines loudn...
Archimedes' Principle
Archimedes' principle is the upward buoyant force exerted by a fluid on an immersed object, equal to the weight of the d...
Arduino
Arduino is an open-source microcontroller development platform that enables users to create interactive projects with se...
Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by air on each unit of surface area. It is approximately 1013 hPa at sea level...
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
ATP is the primary energy carrier in all living cells, storing and transferring chemical energy for cellular processes l...
Atwood Machine
The Atwood machine is an experimental apparatus used to study the principles of classical mechanics, particularly the la...
B
Barometric Altimetry
Barometric altimetry determines altitude from atmospheric pressure measurements. It is a direct application of the smart...
Beer-Lambert Law
The Beer-Lambert law describes how light intensity decreases as it passes through an absorbing substance, relating absor...
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the branch of science that studies motion and forces acting on living organisms, using principles from p...
C
Calibration
Calibration is the adjustment of a measuring instrument so its values correspond to a known reference, correcting system...
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is the metabolic process by which cells break down glucose and other molecules to produce ATP, the ...
Center of Gravity
The center of gravity is the point where gravitational forces are concentrated, determined by the intersection of planes...
Centrifugal Force
Centrifugal force is an apparent force exerted on an object following uniform circular motion. It appears as if there we...
Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration directed toward the center of a circular path, required to maintain circula...
Chronophotography
Chronophotography is a technique that uses photography to record motion over time, visualizing movement sequences throug...
Coefficient of Restitution
The coefficient of restitution measures the elasticity of a collision: the ratio between relative velocities after and b...
Color Mixing
Color addition is a fundamental concept in color theory, which encompasses color mixing, additive and subtractive synthe...
Colorimeter
A colorimeter is a device used to measure the color of an object or surface, serving as an accessible tool for spectrosc...
Colors
Color is the visual perception of a portion of the light spectrum, created when light strikes the eye and is interpreted...
Complex Sound
A complex sound is a sound produced by a combination of several distinct frequencies. Most sounds we hear are complex so...
Conservation of Energy
The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to a...
Coriolis Force
The Coriolis force is a fictitious force that deflects moving objects in a rotating reference frame. It explains the rot...
D
Damping
Damping is the gradual decrease in oscillation amplitude due to friction forces. It is a ubiquitous phenomenon in real o...
Decibel
The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit used to measure sound intensity and other quantities. It expresses the ratio betw...
Density
Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance, typically measured in kg/m3. It determines whether objects float or ...
Dominant Frequency
The dominant frequency is the frequency that predominates in a complex sound in terms of intensity or amplitude. It is t...
Doppler Effect
The Doppler effect describes the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative ...
E
Earth's Axial Tilt
The Earth rotates around its own axis, which is slightly tilted relative to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. T...
Earth's Magnetic Field
Earth's magnetic field is an invisible field generated by motions in the molten outer core, acting as a magnetic dipole ...
Echo
An echo is the reflection of sound waves off a surface, returning to the listener after a noticeable delay, allowing us ...
Elastic Collision
An elastic collision is a type of collision where the colliding bodies deform elastically and conserve their total kinet...
Elastic Energy
Elastic energy is potential energy stored when materials like springs are stretched or compressed....
Electromagnetic Induction
Electromagnetic induction is the phenomenon by which a changing magnetic flux creates an electric voltage. It is the pri...
ESP32
ESP32 is a microcontroller module integrating a 32-bit processor, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity options, as ...
Experimental Protocol
An experimental protocol is a detailed and reproducible description of the steps of an experiment. It is a central eleme...
F
Falling Bodies
Falling bodies in physics describes the motion of an object falling under the influence of Earth's gravity, without othe...
Fourier Transform (FFT)
The Fourier transform is a mathematical tool that decomposes a signal into its constituent frequencies. The FFT (Fast Fo...
Free Fall
Free fall is motion under the sole influence of gravity, without air resistance or other forces....
Frequency
Frequency is the number of complete cycles of a periodic phenomenon occurring per unit time, measured in hertz (Hz)....
Friction Force
Friction force is a force that opposes the motion of an object in contact with a surface. It depends on the nature of th...
Fundamental Frequency
The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency of a sound wave and determines the perceived pitch of a sound. It is t...
G
Gas Exchange
Gas exchange is the biological process by which living organisms absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide through diffus...
GPS Geolocation
GPS geolocation uses satellites to determine a receiver's position with an accuracy of a few meters. FizziQ uses GPS to ...
Gravitational Acceleration
Gravitational acceleration (g) is the acceleration imparted to objects by Earth's gravitational force, approximately 9.8...
Gravity and Free Fall
Gravity is the force that attracts all massive bodies toward each other. It is the effect of gravitation, which is the p...
Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain atmospheric gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation emitted by...
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a sensor that measures angular velocity and orientation. In smartphones, it complements the accelerometer...
H
Hafele-Keating Experiment
The Hafele-Keating experiment is an experimental test of special relativity. It was conducted in October 1971 by Joseph ...
Harmonic Oscillator
A harmonic oscillator is a system that oscillates around an equilibrium position with a constant period. The simple pend...
Harmonic Sound
A harmonic sound is a sound that has a frequency that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency of a sound. Fo...
Hearing Threshold
The hearing threshold is the minimum sound level perceptible by the human ear, approximately 0 dB at 1000 Hz. It varies ...
Hooke's Law
Hooke's law states that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to its extension. This law is part of the high sch...
Human Physiology
Human physiology is a branch of biology that focuses specifically on the functioning of the human body....
I
Ideal Gas Law
The ideal gas law relates the pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of a gas. Expressed as PV = nRT, it describes th...
Illuminance
Illuminance, measured in lux, describes the amount of light illuminating a given surface. This is distinct from luminanc...
Inclined Plane
The inclined plane is a classic device for studying force decomposition and motion. It allows exploring dynamics with th...
Inelastic Collision
An inelastic collision is a type of collision where the colliding bodies do not deform elastically and lose some of thei...
Inertial Reference Frame
An inertial reference frame is a frame of reference in which the principle of inertia is verified, meaning that any poin...
Infrasound
Infrasounds are sound waves with frequencies below 20 Hz, inaudible to humans. They are produced by earthquakes, wind, a...
Instantaneous vs Average Speed
Average speed is the ratio of total distance to total time, while instantaneous speed is the speed at a precise moment. ...
Interference
Interference occurs when two or more waves combine, producing constructive (amplified) or destructive (cancelled) patter...
Inverse Square Law
The inverse square law states that light intensity decreases with the square of the distance from the source. This funda...
K
L
Law of Gravitation
Gravitation is a fundamental physical interaction that causes the attraction of massive bodies. This manifests as gravit...
Linear Acceleration
Linear acceleration measures only the acceleration due to motion, with the gravitational component removed....
Linear Regression
Linear regression finds the best-fit line through a set of experimental points. It is an essential tool for analyzing la...
Luminance
Luminance measures the luminous intensity emitted or reflected by a surface in a given direction, per unit of apparent s...
M
Magnetic Declination
Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north (indicated by a compass) and geographic north. It varies by loc...
Magnetic Field of a Magnet
The magnetic field of a magnet describes the magnetic forces in the space around the magnet. It can be measured with the...
Magnetic Inclination
Magnetic inclination is the angle formed between Earth's magnetic field and the horizontal plane, varying according to l...
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a device used to measure magnetic fields. In a smartphone, it is used for navigation applications as w...
Measurement Noise
Measurement noise is the set of random fluctuations that disturb sensor data, limiting measurement precision and quantif...
Measurement Uncertainty
Measurement uncertainty quantifies the confidence that can be placed in an experimental result. It is a fundamental conc...
Mechanical Energy
Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system....
Micro:bit
Micro:bit is a programmable pocket computer developed by a British nonprofit organization called the Micro:bit Education...
Microphone
A microphone is a device that converts sound waves into electrical signals. It is used to record, amplify, or transmit v...
Momentum
Momentum is the product of mass and velocity. Its conservation during collisions is a fundamental law of physics, part o...
Musical Note Frequencies
A musical note is a symbol that indicates the pitch and duration of a musical sound. Musical notes are the basic element...
N
Newton's Cradle
A Newton's cradle is an educational or scientific demonstration device composed of several balls suspended by strings or...
Newton's Third Law
Newton's third law, or the principle of action and reaction, states that every action produces an equal and opposite rea...
Niels Bohr
The certainly apocryphal story of Niels Bohr outsmarting his physics professor and demonstrating his incredible intellig...
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution refers to all excessive acoustic disturbances in the environment. It has harmful effects on health, slee...
Nyquist Frequency
The Nyquist frequency is the maximum frequency that a digital system can faithfully reproduce, equal to half the samplin...
P
Parabolic Trajectory (Projectile)
A parabolic trajectory is the curve described by a projectile subject only to gravity. This senior high school concept i...
Pedometer
A pedometer is a device used to measure the number of steps taken while walking or running. It is usually worn on the bo...
Pendulum
A pendulum is a scientific tool used for centuries to study the laws of physics and mechanics. The main characteristic o...
Period
The period is the duration of one complete cycle of an oscillation. It is expressed in seconds and is the inverse of fre...
Persistence of Vision
Persistence of vision is the brief retention of an image on the retina after the light stimulus disappears. This phenome...
Phase Shift
Phase shift is the offset between two oscillations of the same frequency, measured in radians. It determines whether wav...
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen fr...
Pi Number
Pi is a mathematical constant defining the ratio between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. In other words,...
Pink Noise
Pink noise is a type of noise where higher frequencies have lower sound intensity, with power decreasing proportionally ...
Pitch (Sound Height)
Pitch corresponds to the perception of the frequency of a sound wave. The higher the frequency, the higher the perceived...
Polarized Light
Polarized light is light whose electric field oscillates in a preferred direction. Polarizing filters and LCD screens ex...
Potential Energy
Potential energy is stored energy due to an object's position or configuration, such as height above ground or spring co...
Precision
Precision characterizes the reproducibility of a repeated measurement. It is quantified by standard deviation and should...
Pure Tone
A pure tone is a sound produced by a single frequency, without any modulation or combination with other frequencies. Thi...
R
Reference Frame
A reference frame is a coordinate system linked to a reference object with respect to which motion is described. The cho...
Reproducibility
Reproducibility is the ability to obtain the same results by repeating an experiment under the same conditions. It is a ...
Resolution
The resolution of an instrument is the smallest variation it can detect. It determines the level of detail accessible du...
Resonance Frequency
Resonance frequency is the natural frequency at which a system oscillates with maximum amplitude when driven by an exter...
Reverberation
Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a space after the source stops, due to multiple reflections off surfaces. I...
RGB Additive Synthesis
Additive synthesis involves superimposing red, green, and blue lights to create all colors. This is the principle behind...
S
Sampling
Sampling is the process of converting a continuous analog signal into a sequence of discrete digital values. It is the b...
Scientific Hypothesis
A scientific hypothesis is a testable proposition that attempts to explain a phenomenon. It is the starting point of any...
Seasons
A season is a period of the year characterized by specific climatic and weather conditions, influenced mainly by Earth's...
Sensor Calibration
Calibration is the comparison of instrument readings with values from a reference standard. It allows quantifying the sy...
Significant Figures
Significant figures indicate the number of reliable digits in a measurement result, avoiding a false impression of preci...
Sound Intensity
Sound intensity is a measurement of the acoustic energy of a sound. The higher the sound intensity, the louder the sound...
Sound Level
Sound level, expressed in decibels (dB), measures the intensity of a sound on a logarithmic scale. It allows quantifying...
Sound Propagation
Sound signal propagation refers to the process by which sound waves travel through a medium, such as air, water, or soli...
Sound Signal Envelope
The envelope of a sound signal describes the evolution of amplitude over time. It consists of four phases (ADSR) and con...
Sound Signal Propagation
Sound signal propagation refers to the process by which sound waves travel through a medium, such as air, water, or soli...
Sound Wave Addition
Sound wave addition refers to the process of combining multiple sound signals to obtain a resulting sound signal. The re...
Spectral Analysis
Spectral analysis decomposes a signal into its frequency components. It allows visualizing the frequencies present in a ...
Spectrogram
A spectrogram is a visual representation of a sound showing the evolution of its frequencies over time. It is an essenti...
Speed of Sound
The speed of sound is the velocity at which sound waves propagate through a medium. In air at room temperature, it is ap...
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation measures the dispersion of a series of measurements around their mean. It is the fundamental indicato...
Standing Wave
A standing wave is the result of the superposition of two waves of the same frequency traveling in opposite directions. ...
Systematic vs Random Error
Systematic errors affect all measurements in the same direction, while random errors vary unpredictably. Distinguishing ...
T
Tempered Scale
The tempered scale is the musical system that divides the octave into 12 equal semitones. It has been the standard of We...
Terminal Velocity
Terminal velocity is the limiting speed reached by a falling object when the drag force balances its weight. This concep...
Theodolite
A theodolite is a measuring instrument used to measure horizontal and vertical angles. It is mainly used in surveying, c...
Thermal Convection
Thermal convection is heat transfer through fluid movement caused by density differences due to temperature variations. ...
Timbre
The timbre of a musical instrument is the distinctive quality of its sound, which differentiates it from other instrumen...
Triangulation
Triangulation is a method used to determine the position of an object or point in space using distance measurements or a...
U
Ultrasound
Ultrasounds are sound waves with frequencies above 20 kHz, inaudible to humans. They are used in ultrasound imaging, son...
Uniform Circular Motion
Uniform circular motion occurs when an object moves in a circle at constant speed, with continuously changing velocity d...
Uniform Linear Motion
Uniform linear motion (ULM) is motion at constant velocity in a straight line, with zero acceleration....
Uniformly Accelerated Linear Motion
Uniformly accelerated linear motion is a type of motion where an object moves in a straight line with constant accelerat...
Uniformly Accelerated Motion
Uniformly accelerated motion has constant acceleration, such as free-falling objects near Earth's surface....
V
Visible Spectrum
The visible spectrum is the part of electromagnetic radiation perceptible to the human eye, ranging from 380 nm (violet)...
Vocal Cords
Vocal cords are two muscular folds located in the larynx that vibrate as air passes through to produce the voice. Their ...
Vocal Formant
Formants are the resonance frequencies of the vocal tract that characterize each vowel. They allow distinguishing an 'a'...
W
Wave Speed
Wave speed (celerity) is the propagation velocity of a wave. For sound in air at 20°C, it is approximately 343 m/s. It d...
Wavelength
Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive identical points of a wave, such as two peaks or two troughs....
White Noise
White noise is a type of noise with constant sound intensity across all frequencies, composed equally of all audible fre...