Introduction:
Here are certain words commonly used, while teaching Physics. The same words have their literal meanings also. The undersigned author is a teacher of both Physics and English. He has listed some words which he came across while teaching both the subjects with their meanings in both the disciplines. Readers may find more words from other sources, which are commonly used, for improvement of their vocabulary.
1. Ballistics
The word Ballistics is used in various disciplines especially in Science and Technology. The dictionary meaning is science of production of projectiles such as shells, bombs, bullets etc. In Physics this word is applied in ballistic pendulum, ballistic galvanometer etc. In Space Technology it is used in ballistic missiles. So, anything which projected in a parabolic curve is known as Ballistics.
2. Barn:
The literal meaning of Barn is building in which gain, hay etc are stored. In general, a broad target. In Nuclear Physics, it represents the unit effective cross section of nucleus in the order of 10 power -24 cm.
It is a matter for our thought to ponder even Scientists think in terms of poetic language. In part A we saw the word Avalanche giving a poetic definition of raining of electrons in a diode. In this part, the word Barn may be considered a poetic description of measuring a nuclear area. How such a small area could be named with such a huge area like the storage place of paddy and rice.
For the size of electrons and protons, the cross section of nucleus is so high that for an electron, nuclear cross section is a Barn. The wisdom of our scientists in this analogy may well be appreciated.
3. Buoyancy:
A carefree, light-hearted person is generally known as Buoyant person. He is supposed to 'fly' in air. A buoyant person makes people around him carefree and joyous.
Such a meaningful word is used in Hydro- physics for the objects floating in liquids.
Buoyancy is the upward thrust on a body immersed in a liquid. This is the foundation of Archimedes principle, which is a turning point in Physics and Chemistry.
One will be stuck with wonder to understand the similarity between a care-free person flying in air along with an object floating in water.
4. Bits and Bytes: These two words are not un-common for a computer student. A Byte represents the sub-division of a word in a computer. It usually consists of 8 Bits. A kilobyte is 1024 bits and so on.
The literal meaning of Bit need not be insisted upon. whose general meaning is a small piece. Likewise, the word Byte means sequence of bits possessed as a single unit of information in Computers.
5. Camera and Cell:
The meaning of Camera is well known to us. It is an optical device for obtaining still photographs or for exposing cinematic film. The literal meaning of this word is 'a private room' especially that of a professional like a judge etc. In South India, the word is commonly used to represent a store room where personal belongings are kept.
The similarity between the structure of a camera and a small room (cabin) is to be felt and appreciated.
Likewise, we all know the uses of 'Cell' phones and battery cells. The literal meaning of Cell is also a 'small room' or an apartment.
6. Candela:
It is anybody's guess that the origin of this word is 'Candle'. It is the unit of luminous intensity formerly expressed in candle power. There is an idiom which states that 'can't hold a candle to. which means the matter under consideration does not project enough light to read.
7. Cascade:
The common dictionary meaning of this word is a 'waterfall'. It does not mean a waterfall falling continuously, but falling step after step. In Science, a 'cascade process' represents a process that takes place in a number of steps, usually because the single step is too inefficient to produce thee result. as in the case of a cascade liquefier wherein gas is liquified in various steps.
8. Causality:
Cause and effect relationship has great significance both in Science and Philosophy. In Science,the principle states that 'the effect can not precede cause'. In Philosophy the word implies 'there is no effect without cause'. In other words, this is a philosophical version of Newton's third law which states that 'Action and Reaction are equal and opposite' which, in other words means that Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, but can only be transformed. For any change in any object or energy in the Universe, if it is considered as an effect, and the action is the cause. Hence, the word Causality has invited continuous and deep study by Philosophers and Scientists as well.
9. Chirality:
The origin of this word is Chiral. Any object which is different in its reflection is known as chiral. Otherwise it is known as Achiral. The best example of a chiral object is an arm reflected in a mirror. Left arm will appear like right arm and vice versa. Hence chirality means, the property existing in left, but belongs to right handed structural forms. The example for this is in Chemical properties in a medicine called Thalidomide.
(Example for an achiral object is a water glass reflected in a mirror which will not exchange sides)
10. Chromoticity:
This word is applied both in Optics and Sound. In Optics, it is an objective description of the colour quality of a visual stimulus and in Sound, it relates to notes in a melodic progression.TChromatic which refers to colour and music scales.
11. Cladding:
Cladding generally means 'clothes'. We could have read in stories thee phrase 'clad in white cloth' etc. The extended meanings are, to cover one material with other as in the case of a nuclear reactor, brick with another material in building construction. A modern use of this word can be found in fibre optics when optical fibres are protected by cladding.
12. Coagulation
The meaning is to clot by chemical reaction. Heating is one example of coagulating as in the case of eggs being boiled to coagulate the albumin.
13. Coefficient
A coefficient is that which acts together with another thing. In Physics, it is a constant used as a multiplier to various quantities which are multiplied.
14. Colligator:
This word is used in Thermal Physics. A colligative substance is one which is added to a solution to change its properties, keeping the original properties in tact. The. Examples of such properties which change because of a colligator are Osmotic Pressure, lowering of vapour pressure, depression of freezing point and elevation of boiling point while other properties in tact. The dictionary meaning of colligate is to bind together and colligative means change of properties due to concentration.
15. Commutation:
The origin of this word is Mutation which means 'to change' or exchange ordinarily for a lower value. Eg: The judge commuted the five year sentence to two years. It also refers to a daily journey like "I commute by a local train daily. In Electricity, the commutator carries current from the generator to various external circuits and in Mathematics, it means value of an expression stated in various smaller expressions.
16. Complementarity:
Anything which is incomplete will be made complete by a complementary object. It may not be out of place if I make a mention of the difference between a Complement and a Compliment. A compliment is a thing which is provided free of cost. " I got two tickets as compliment" etc. He paid her a compliment that she was extremely beautiful. (just for courtesy)
When a thing automatically fills the gap, that process is known as Complementarity. This term is very commonly used in geometry involving triangles and circles. In Physics, it can be said to be used to explain the wave theory and corpuscular theory. When wave theory is unable to explain Photo-electric effect, we use Corpuscular (Particle) theory and when the later is unable to explain Newton's Rings, we use Wave theory. They are complement to each other.
17. Conjucate:
We all know the meaning of Conjugal (mutual). All of us are aware of the need for Conjugal fidelity too. It implies mutual responsibility and loyalty. The same meaning is applied in Physics too. The object and the image through a mirror, the exchangeable points in any instrument (say a kite) etc are conjucate points.
18. Continuum:
A process which 'continues' to change into another is called a Continuum. This word is used in explaining the four dimensional Minkowski's space in Special Theory of Relativity. The three dimensions of space join with another of Time to form the space-time continuum.
19. Counter:
This word is used in several senses. Two normal uses are 1. Opposite (Oppose) and 2. count. Both the meanings are applied in Physics. 1. It will produce a counter effect and 2. Geiger counter counts the number of particles.
20. Couple:
Normally, a 'Couple' is supposed to act in the same direction in our daily life. But in Physics a 'couple' acts in equal and opposite direction, the only common aspect being 'Two'.
21.Critical:
The situation is very 'critical' means, the next event will be a turning point. "The patient is very critical" means he may die the next moment. The word Critical is often used in Physics to indicate that the next step will be a change of state.
22. Cryogenics:
Cryogen is an object which is able to produce low temperature. This word is made up of combination of two words Cryo+Gen (Generatror). Cryonics is 'preservation of a dead body by deep freezing' and Cryothapy means medical treatment given using ice.
CONCLUSION:
Thus, in this article, we saw the usage of 22 words in daily practice and in Science. I am sure, readers might have learnt certain new aspects of the language. In the next part, we shall see some more words with various usage.
It is sincerely hoped that, at the end of this series, readers will be in possession of various words rich in meaning. More than that, if a searching attitude towards origin and development of English words will be developed, which is the purpose of this article series.
Dr B.Sathyanarayanan (65) is an experienced administrator, teacher and writer. He is M.Sc(Physics) from Annamalai University. He studied Psychology and Philosophy as two additional subjects for graduation. He worked as a Physics Lecturer for 2 years (1969-1971). Later, took up a bank job and continued Physics and Philosophy research privately. At the age of 50, he got voluntary retirement to devote more time for social and educational activities
He continued his interest in social work and got his PhD in Psychological counselling in 2000 and is counselling on HIV/AIDS matters. He teaches English to adults. He is a well known writer of English. His writing is recognised internationally by listing in the directory of World Philosophers, Bowling Green State University, U.S.A.
His interest in English language is hereditary in the sense that his father was an English teacher for forty long years. This author, from his childhood used to sit alongside his father and observe his teaching to senior matriculation students.
Another inspiration the author had in his life was from World Philosopher J.Krishnamurti, whose English was unique and who had the habit of analysing the origin of words before using them. This training helped him to start a periodical 'Philosophy of Science' containing standard articles on Physics, Philosophy and HIV/AIDS.
The author is firmly convinced about the fact that students and readers should develop the habit of consulting dictionary, thesaurus and consult teachers continually and without break to learn more and to refresh their knowledge of English.
In the previous article, Technical words in Physics starting with alphabet 'A' were analysed with their literal meanings. In this article Physics' technical terms starting with with some more alphabets are analysed and it is hoped that readers will be benfitted from the contents.
