4 семестр / Glossary Spring term Student's version

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

Example

Russian

UNIT 15

electric charge, n

ɪˈlek.trɪk tʃɑːdʒ

a definite quantity of

An important characteristic of charge

электрический заряд

electricity, either negative or

is that electric charge is always

positive, usually regarded as a

conserved.

more or less localized

population of electrons

separated or considered

separately from their

corresponding protons or vice

versa : the quantity of

electricity held by a body and

construed as an excess or

deficiency of electrons

Electron, n

ɪˈlek.trɒn

an extremely small piece of

If the free electron remains free after

электрон

matter with a negative

the collision, we speak of a free-free

electrical charge

collision.

Proton, n

ˈprəʊ.tɒn

a type of elementary particle

The model presented here represents

протон

(= a very small piece of

a first, basic step in considering the

matter) with a positive

acceleration of protons by fast

electrical charge that is found

electrons inside solid targets.

in the nucleus of all atoms

Conductor, n

kənˈdʌk.tər

a substance that allows heat or

Or, a small current-carrying portion

проводник

electricity to go through it

of the conductor mass m is formed,

and it is further magnetically

accelerated toward the axis.

Insulator, n

ˈɪn.sjə.leɪ.tər

a material or covering that

Generally, plastics tend to be good

диэлектрик

electricity, heat, or sound

insulators.

cannot go through:

Grounded, adj

ˈɡraʊn.dɪd

connected to the ground with a

You could get a nasty shock from that

заземлённый

wire

water heater if it isn't grounded

properly.

Coulomb’s law

ˈkuː.lɒms lɔː

a statement in physics: the

Coulomb's law states that two electric

закон Кулона

force of attraction or repulsion

charges of the same sign will repel

acting along a straight line

each other as the inverse square of the

between two electric charges

distance.

is directly proportional to the

product of the charges and

inversely to the square of the

distance between them

electric field, n

ɪˌlek.trɪk ˈfiːld

a region associated with a

Then a principle called the Hall effect

электрическое поле

distribution of electric charge

generates an electric field that

or a varying magnetic field in

accelerates the ions and electrons and

which forces due to that

channels them into a characteristically

charge or field act upon other

blue plume that emerges from the

electric charges

spacecraft at over 37,000 mph

(60,000 kph).

UNIT 16

electric potential, n

ɪˈlek.trɪk pəˈten.ʃəl

the potential energy of a unit

In this specific case, the protons are

потенциал

positive charge at a point in an

not well focused by the static electric

electric field that is reckoned

potential.

as the work which would be

required to move the charge to

its location in the electric field

from an arbitrary point having

zero potential (as one at

infinite distance from all

electric charges) and that is

roughly analogous to the

potential energy at a given

elevation in a gravitational

field

potential difference, n

pəˈten.ʃəl ˈdɪf.ər.əns

the difference in potential

This allows plasma to support an

разность потенциалов

between two points that

electric field with a potential

represents the work involved

difference close to the applied

or the energy released in the

voltage.

transfer of a unit quantity of

electricity from one point to

the other

mechanical energy, n

məˈkæn.ɪ.kəl ˈen.ə.dʒi

the energy that is possessed by

The alternating-current

механическая энергия

an object due to its motion or

(AC) generator is a device that

due to its position

converts mechanical energy to

electrical

energy.

equipotential line, n

ˌiːkwɪpəˈtenʃ(ə)l laɪn

a line along which the electric

Equipotential lines are always

эквипотенциальная

potential is constant

perpendicular to electric field lines.

линия

Capacitor, n

kəˈpæs.ɪ.tər

a device that collects and

These capacitors are arranged

конденсатор

stores electricity, and is an

eccentrically around the electrodes.

important part of electronic

equipment such as televisions

and radios

Capacitance, n

kəˈpæs.ɪ.təns

the ability of an object or

Since the gap capacitance is inversely

ёмкость

material to store electricity

proportional to the gap distance d, as

d decreases, the prepulse increases.

UNIT 17

electric current, n

ɪˈlek.trɪk ˈkʌr.ənt

a movement of positive or

A fraction of the electric current

электрический ток

negative electric particles

flows close to the wall and causes

(such as electrons)

heating and subsequent ablation.

accompanied by such

observable effects as the

production of heat, of a

magnetic field, or of chemical

transformations

Ampere, n

ˈæm·pɪər

the standard unit of

One ampere of cur-

ампер

measurement for the strength

rent is equivalent to one coulomb of

of an electric current

charge passing through the cross-

sectional area in a time interval of 1 s.

drift velocity, n

drɪft vəˈlɒs.ə.ti

the average velocity attained

Despite the collisions the electrons

скорость дрейфа

by charged particles, such as

move slowly along the

electrons, in a material due to

conductor with the drift velocity.

an electric field

Ohm’s law, n

əʊms lɔː

a law in electricity: the

We can analyze simple circuits using

закон Ома

strength of a direct current is

Ohm's law and the rules for se-

directly proportional to the

ries and parallel combinations of

potential difference and

resistors.

inversely proportional to the

resistance of the circuit

Resistance, n

rɪˈzɪs.təns

the degree to which a

Copper has (a) low resistance.

сопротивление

substance prevents the flow of

an electric current through it

simple circuit, n

ˈsɪm.pəl ˈsɜː.kɪt

a circuit that consists of a

A simple circuit contains three

простая электрическая

current source, conductors and

components necessary to have a

цепь

a load

functioning electric circuit, namely, a

source of voltage, a conductive path,

and a resistor.

UNIT 19

Ferromagnetic adj, n

ˌfer.əʊ.mæɡˈnet.ɪk

having the same kind of

The nonlinearity in the magnetic

ферромагнитный

magnetism (= power to attract

system is due to the dependence of

other objects) that iron has

the permeability on the induction in

ferromagnetic materials.

Domain, n

dəˈmeɪn

any of the small randomly

In ferromagnetic materials, strong

домен

oriented regions of uniform

coupling occurs between neighbor-

magnetization in a

ing atoms, forming large groups of

ferromagnetic substance

atoms with spins that are aligned

which are called domains.

magnetic monopoles, n

mæɡˈnet.ɪk

a hypothetical north or south

There is some theoretical basis for the

магнитный монополь

ˈmɒnəpəʊl

magnetic pole existing alone

speculation that magnetic

monopoles (isolated north or south

poles) exist in nature, and the attempt

to detect them is currently an active

experimental field of investigation.

magnetic field, n

mæɡˌnet.ɪk ˈfiːld

a region around a magnetic

The normal component of the

магнитное поле

material or a moving electric

magnetic field is continuous across

charge within which the force

the boundary.

of magnetism acts.

Tesla, n

ˈteslə

a unit of magnetic flux density

Magnet strength is measured in units

тесла

in the meter-kilogram-second

called teslas.

system equivalent to one

weber per square meter

Gauss, n

ɡaʊs

the centimeter-gram-second

This model from the 1990s is no

гаусс

unit of magnetic flux density

longer in production as Omega has

that is equal to 1 × 10−4 tesla

now updated its Seamaster line to

include the brand’s in-house Caliber

8800, which is Master Chronometer

certified, and anti-magnetic to 15,000

gauss.

UNIT 22

Ray, n

reɪ

a narrow beam of light, heat,

Light rays bend as they pass from air

луч

etc. travelling in a straight line

to water.

from its place of origin

law of reflection, n

ˌlɔː əv rɪˈflek.ʃən

a statement in optics: when

The law of reflection governs the

закон отражения

light falls upon a plane surface

reflection of light-rays off smooth

it is so reflected that the angle

conducting surfaces, such as polished

of reflection is equal to the

metal or metal-coated glass mirrors.

angle of incidence and that the

incident ray, reflected ray, and

normal ray all lie in the plane

of incidence

Refraction, n

rɪˈfræk.ʃən

the fact of light or sound being

About 30% of laser energy was lost in

преломление

caused to change direction or

the results of reflection and refraction

to separate when it travels

effects.

through water, glass, etc.

index of refraction, n

ˈɪn.deks əv rɪˈflek.ʃən

a calculation of the

So how do you calculate the absolute

показатель

relationship between the speed

index of refraction?

преломления

of light moving through a

medium (= substance) and the

speed of light in a vacuum (=

an area with no matter in it)

Dispersion, n

dɪˈspɜː.ʃən

the phenomenon in which the

The dispersion of light into a

дисперсия

phase velocity of a wave

spectrum is demonstrat-

depends on its frequency, the

ed most vividly in nature through the

separation of light into

formation of a rainbow, often seen

different colours

by an observer positioned between

the Sun and a rain shower.

UNIT 23

converging lens, n

kənˌvɜː.dʒɪŋ ˈlenz

a lens (= a curved piece of

Note that a converging lens has a

собирающая линза

glass) that bends light so that it

positive focal length under this con-

can produce an image

vention and a diverging lens has a

negative focal length.

diverging lens, n

daɪˈvɜːdʒɪŋ ˈlenz

a lens that causes divergence

Chromatic aberration for a diverging

рассеивающая линза

of rays

lens is opposite that for a converging

lens.

focal point, n

ˌfəʊ.kəl ˈpɔɪnt

the point where waves of light

A thin lens has two focal points, one

фокус

or sound that are moving

on each side of the lens.

towards each other meet

focal length, n

ˌfəʊ.kəl ˈleŋθ

the distance between a point

The focal length is the image distance

фокусная длина

where waves of light meet and

that corresponds to an infi-

the centre of a lens

nite object distance.

real image, n

rɪəl ˈɪm.ɪdʒ

an optical image formed of

In the formation of a real

действительное

real foci

image, light actually passes through

изображение

the image point.

virtual image, n

ˈvɜː.tʃu.əl ˈɪm.ɪdʒ

an image (such as one seen in

For a virtual image,

мнимое изображение

a plane mirror) formed of

the light doesn't pass through the

points from which divergent

image point, but appears to come (di-

rays (as of light) seem to

verge) from there.

emanate without actually

doing so

Term

Interference, n

ˌɪn.təˈfɪə.rəns

the mutual effect on meeting

In constructive interference, the

интерференция

of two wave trains (as of light

amplitude of the resultant wave is

or sound) that constitutes

greater than that of either of the

alternating areas of increased

individual waves, whereas in

and decreased amplitude (such

destructive

as light and dark lines or

interference, the resultant amplitude

louder and softer sound)

is less than that of either individual

wave.

Film, n

fɪlm

a thin layer of something on a

Colors swirl on a soap bubble as it

плёнка

surface

drifts through the air on a summer

day, and vivid rainbows reflect from

the filth of oil films in the puddles of

a dirty city street.

Diffraction, n

dɪˈfræk.ʃən

(a pattern caused by) a change

The first corresponds to geometrical

дифракция

in the direction of light, water,

optics effects, while the second is

or sound waves

associated with diffraction.

Grating, n

ˈɡreɪ.tɪŋ

a structure made of metal bars

The diffraction grating, a useful

решётка

that covers a hole, especially

device for analyzing light sources,

in the ground over a drain

consists of a large number of equally

spaced parallel slits.

Polarization, n

ˌpəʊ.lə.raɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

the act of making light waves

Polarization of light occurs when

поляризация

move in one direction only, or

light is scattered and oriented in a

mainly in one direction:

certain direction.

Scattering, n

ˈskæt.ər.ɪŋ

the random change in direction

The absorption and reradiation of

рассеивание

of the particles constituting a

light by the medium, called

beam or wave front due to

scattering, is what causes sunlight

collision with particles of the

reaching an observer on Earth from

medium traversed

straight overhead to be po-

larized.

Absorption, n

əbˈzɔːp.ʃən

the process of taking

Photoelectrons are created by

поглощение

something into another

absorption of a single photon.

substance

Relativity, n

ˌrel.əˈtɪv.ə.ti

either of two theories of

Einstein based his special theory of

относительность

physics giving the relationship

relativity on two postulates.

between space, time, and

energy, especially for two

objects moving in different

ways

Special relativity, n

ˌspeʃ.əl rel.əˈtɪv.ə.ti

theory of physics giving the

The theory of special relativity

Специальная теория

relationship between space,

explains more fully the relationship

относительности

time, and energy, especially

between electric and magnetic effects.

for two objects moving in

different ways, first suggested

by Albert Einstein

General relativity, n

ˌdʒen.ər.əl

the idea, proposed by Albert

This type of cosmic phenomenon is

Общая теория

rel.əˈtɪv.ə.ti

Einstein in 1915, that gravity

named after the famous theoretical

относительности

is caused by a curving of space

physicist Albert Einstein, whose

and time

theory of general relativity proposed

that objects with mass distort the

fabric of spacetime—making such

'gravitational lensing' effects possible.

Simultaneity, n

ˌsɪmltəˈnɪətɪ

act of existing or occurring at

The relativity of simultaneity is the

одновременность

the same time

concept that distant simultaneity –

whether two spatially separated

events occur at the same time – is not

absolute, but depends on the

observer's reference frame.

Time dilation, n

ˈtaɪm daɪˌleɪ.ʃən

the theory in physics that the

Time dilation will cause astronauts

замедление времени

time between two events

travelling near the speed of light to

seems to be longer if you are

age more slowly than their families

moving through space than if

on Earth.

you are at rest

Permeate, v

ˈpɜː.mi.eɪt

to spread through something

In later years, when more was known

пропитывать,

and be present in every part of

about the nature of light, the

проникать

it

idea of an ether that permeates all of

space was relegated to the theoreti-

cal graveyard.

Compatible, adj

kəmˈpæt.ə.bəl

able to exist, live, or work

The definition of momentum required

совместимый

successfully with something or

generalization to make it

someone else:

compatible with the principle of

relativity.

UNIT 27

Quantum (pl. quanta),

ˈkwɒn.təm

the smallest amount or unit of

It is a conceptual error to think that

квант

n

something, especially energy

quantum mechanics can be

understood just using probabilistic

constructs.

Illuminate, v

ɪˈluː.mɪ.neɪt

to light something and make it

Various phenomena, such as the

освещать

brighter

electromagnetic radiation emitted by

a heated object, the emission of

electrons by illuminated metals, and

the emission of sharp spectral lines by

gas atoms in an electric discharge

tube, couldn't be understood within

the framework

of classical physics.

Hypothesis (pl.

haɪˈpɒθ.ə.sɪs

an idea or explanation for

Several hypotheses for global

гипотеза

hypotheses), n

something that is based on

warming have been suggested.

known facts but has not yet

been proved

Cavity, n

ˈkæv.ə.ti

a hole, or an empty space

He assumed that the walls of a

полость

between two surfaces

glowing cavity were composed of

billions of these resonators, although

their exact nature was unknown.

Resonator, n

ˈrez.ən.eɪ.tər

a device or system that

Planck hypothesized that blackbody

резонатор

exhibits resonance or resonant

radiation was produced by

behavior

submicroscopic charged oscillators,

which he called resonators.

Bremsstrahlung, n

ˈbrɛmˌʃtrɑləŋ

the electromagnetic radiation

The continuous radiation is some-

тормозное излучение

produced by the sudden

times called bremsstrahlung, a

deceleration of a charged

German word meaning "braking

particle in an intense electric

radiation", because electrons emit

field (as of an atomic nucleus)

radiation when they undergo an

acceleration inside

the target.

Uncertainty principle

ʌnˈsɜː.tən.ti

a principle in quantum

It corresponds to the uncertainty

принцип

ˈprɪn.sə.pəl

mechanics: it is impossible to

principle which states that one cannot

неопределённости

discern simultaneously and

be as precise as one wishes in the

with high accuracy both the

localisation of both the time and the

position and the momentum of

frequency domains.

a particle (such as an electron)

UNIT 28

Spectrum (pl. spectra),

ˈspek.trəm

the set of colours into which a

The wavelengths contained in such a

спектр

n

beam of light can be separated,

spectrum are characteristic of the

or a range of waves, such as

element emitting the light.

light waves or radio waves

Nucleus (pl. nuclei), n

ˈnjuː.kli.əs

the central part of an atom

Quantum mechanics predicts that the

ядро

wave function for the hydrogen

atom in the ground state is spherically

symmetric; hence the electron can

be found in a spherical region

surrounding the nucleus.

Bohr radius, n

bɔːr ˈreɪ.di.əs

the radius of the smallest or

The orbit with the smallest radi-

Боровский радиус

ground-state electron orbit in

us, called the Bohr radius,

the hydrogen atom, equal to

corresponds to n = 1.

about 5.29×10−9 centimeter

Excited state, n

ɪkˈsaɪ.tɪd steɪt

a state of a physical system

As a result of this absorption, some

возбужденное

(such as an atomic nucleus, an

atoms are raised to various

состояние

atom, or a molecule) that is

allowed higher energy levels, called

higher in energy than the

excited states.

ground state