316. Physics

See also 25. ASTRONOMY ; 100. COSMOLOGY ; 189. GRAVITY ; 342. RADIATION .

anisotropy

the state or quality of having different properties along different axes. See also 54. BOTANY . — anisotropic, adj.

astaticism

the condition of constant, uninterrupted variability of direction or position. — astatic, adj.

atomology

the theory of atoms.

biophysics

the branch of physics that deals with living things. — biophysicist, n. — biophysical, adj.

ceraunics

the study of heat and electricity.

crystallography

the science that studies crystallization and the forms and structures of crystals. — crystallographer, n. — crystallographic, crystallographical, adj.

diamagnetism

a property of certain materials of being repelled by both poles of a magnet, thus taking a position at right angles to the magnet’s lines of influence.

dynamometry

the measurement of energy used in doing work. — dynamometer, n. — dynamometric, dynamometrical, adj.

electrotropism

orientation in relation to a current of electricity. — electrotropic, adj.

energetics

the branch of physics that studies energy and its transformation. — energeticist, n. — energeticistic, adj.

energism

a doctrine that asserts that certain phenomena can be explained in terms of energy. — energist, n.

faradism

the application of alternating electrical current for therapeutic purposes. — faradic, adj.

focimetry

the determination of focal length. — focimetric, adj.

Franklinism

static electricity. Also called Franklinic electricity .

galvanism

a direct electrical current, especially one produced by chemical action. — galvanic, adj.

galvanology

a work on the production of electric current by chemical means. — galvanologist, n. — galvanological, adj.

galvanometry

the measurement of the strength of electric currents, by means of a galvanometer. — galvanometric, galvanometrical, adj.

geophysics

the physics of the earth, including oceanography, volcanology, seismology, etc. — geophysicist, n. — geophysical, adj.

gyrostatics

the study of the behavior of rotating solid bodies. — gyrostatic, adj. — gyrostatically, adv.

halology

Chemistry. the study of salts. Also called halotechny .

homeomorphism

the similarity of the crystalline forms of substances that have different chemical compositions. — homeomorphous, adj.

hydraulics

1. the science concerned with the laws governing water and other liquids in motion and their engineering applications.

2. applied or practical hydrodynamics.

hydrodynamics

the study of forces that act on or are produced by liquids. Also called hydromechanics . — hydrodynamic, hydrodynamical, adj.

hydrokinetics

the branch of hydrodynamics dealing with the laws of gases or liquids in motion. — hydrokinetic, adj.

hydromechanics

hydrodynamics. — hygrometric, hygrometrical, adj.

hydrostatics

the study of the equilibrium and pressure of liquids. — hydrostatician, n. — hydrostatic, hydrostatical, adj.

hygrometry

the branch of physics concerned with the measurement of moisture in the air. — hygrometric, hygrometrical, adj.

isomorphism

close similarity between the forms of different crystals. See also 44. BIOLOGY . — isomorph, n. — isomorphic, adj.

kinematics

the branch of mechanics that deals with motion without reference to force or mass. — kinematic, kinematical, adj.

magnetology

the study of magnets and magnetism.

monosymmetry

the state exhibited by a crystal, having three unequal axes with one oblique intersection; the state of being monoclinic. See also 44. BIOLOGY . — monosymmetric, monosymmetrical, adj.

optotechnics

the technology of optical instruments and apparatus.

oscillography

the study of the wave-forms of changing currents, voltages, or any other quantity that can be translated into electricity, as light or sound waves. — oscillographic, adj.

osmometry

the measurement of osmotic pressure, or the force a dissolved substance exerts on a semipermeable membrane through which it cannot pass when separated by it from a pure solvent. — osmometric, adj.

physicism

the doctrine that explains the universe in physical terms.

physics

the science that studies matter and energy in terms of motion and force. — physicist, n. — physical, adj.

pleochroism

a property of some crystals of showing variation in color when viewed in transmitted light or from different directions. Also called pleochromatism, polychroism, polychromatism . — pleochroic, pleochromatic, adj.

plenism

the theory that nature contains no vacuums. Cf. vacuism. — plenist, n.

pleochromatism, polychroism, polychromatism

pleochroism.

pyrology

the study of fire and heat, especially with regard to chemical analysis.

radiometry

the measurement of radiant energy by means of a radiometer, an instrument composed of vanes which rotate at speeds proportionate to the intensity of the energy source. — radiometric, adj.

radiophony

the transformation of radiant energy into sound.

spectrobolometry

measurement of the distribution of energy in a spectrum by means of a spectrobolometer, an instrument combining a bolometer and a spectroscope. — spectrobolometric, adj.

staties

the branch of mechanics or physics that deals with matter and forces in equilibrium. — statical, adj.

sympalmograph

an apparatus for illustrating in graphic form the composition of two simple harmonic motions at right angles.

telemechanics

the science of operating or controlling mechanisms by remote control, especially by radio.

thermionics

the science or study of the emission of electrons from substances at high temperatures. — thermionic, adj.

thermostatics

the science or study of the equilibrium of heat.

tribology

the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear.

trichroism

a property, peculiar to certain crystals, of transmitting light of three different colors when viewed from three different directions. Also called trichromatism . — trichroic, adj.

trichromatism

1. the condition of having, using, or combining three colors.

2. trichroism. — trichromatic, adj.

trochilics

Rare. the science of rotary motion. — trochilic, adj.

vacuism

the theory that nature permits vacuums. Cf. plenism. — vacuist, n.

voltaism

electricity generated by chemical means, as in a cell or battery; galvanism.