GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE ARK

Reference library

Foundations

Explore concepts, laws, equations and methods, with clear explanations of their use and sources. Choose an area of study or find a specific entry.

More filters

Reference entries

Showing 121–150 of 365 reference entries

Physics · ChemistryMaxwell thermodynamic derivative relations

Equality of mixed derivatives of smooth equilibrium potentials gives (∂T/∂V)_S=−(∂p/∂S)_V, (∂T/∂p)_S=(∂V/∂S)_p, (∂S/∂V)_T=(∂p/∂T)_V and (∂S/∂p)_T=−(∂V/∂T)_p.

Mathematical statement
Physics · ChemistryHeat capacities, expansion and compressibility

For a fixed amount of simple compressible matter, C_V=(∂U/∂T)_V and C_p=(∂H/∂T)_p.

Model
PhysicsHeat-engine efficiency and Carnot bound

A cyclic heat engine drawing heat Q_h from a reservoir T_h and rejecting Q_c to T_c delivers W=Q_h−Q_c.

Model
Physics · ChemistryThermal equilibrium and low-temperature entropy limit

Thermal equilibrium is transitive, permitting a common temperature scale.

Model
PhysicsMicrocanonical ensemble and state counting

For an isolated equilibrium system with fixed energy shell, volume and particle number, the microcanonical model gives equal probability to accessible microstates.

Model
Physics · ChemistryThermodynamic observables from the partition function

For canonical Z=Σ_i exp(−βE_i), F=−k_BT lnZ, U=−∂_β lnZ and S=k_B(lnZ+βU).

Model
Physics · ChemistryGrand-canonical particle exchange and potential

For a system exchanging energy and particles with reservoirs at T and μ, p_i,N=exp[−β(E_i,N−μN)]/Ξ and Ξ=Σ_N,i exp[−β(E_i,N−μN)].

Model
Physics · ChemistryClassical equipartition and quantum freeze-out

In a classical canonical model, each independent quadratic term in an unrestricted coordinate or momentum contributes k_BT/2 to the mean energy.

Model
PhysicsMaxwell equilibrium velocity distribution

For a dilute classical ideal gas in its rest frame, the probability density of a particle velocity is (m/(2πk_BT))³ᐟ²exp[−m|v|²/(2k_BT)].

Model
Physics · Chemistry · Earth & cosmosPhase coexistence and Clapeyron slope

Pure phases coexist at common T and p when their molar Gibbs energies are equal.

Model
Physics · Earth & cosmosPlanck spectrum and electromagnetic mode counting

Thermal radiation in a vacuum cavity at temperature T has spectral energy density per angular frequency u_ω=ħω³/[π²c³(exp(ħω/(k_BT))−1)].

Model
PhysicsCoulomb field from static charge

In vacuum electrostatics, a point charge q at r′ produces E(r)=q(r−r′)/(4πε₀|r−r′|³).

Model
PhysicsPoisson and Laplace electrostatic boundary problems

Electrostatic potential obeys ∇²φ=−ρ/ε₀ in vacuum; charge-free regions obey Laplace's equation.

Model
PhysicsGrounded-sphere image-charge solution

For a charge q at r₀ outside a grounded conducting sphere of radius a centered at the origin, an image q′=−qa/|r₀| at r′=a²r₀/|r₀|² gives the exterior potential q/(4πε₀|r−r₀|)+q′/(4πε₀|r−r′|).

Model
PhysicsElectric dipole and multipole expansion

Outside a localized charge distribution, the potential expands in powers of inverse distance.

Model
PhysicsMagnetostatic Biot–Savart field

A localized steady current distribution in vacuum produces B(r)=μ₀/(4π)∫J(r′)×(r−r′)/|r−r′|³d³r′.

Model
Physics · ChemistryPolarization, bound charge and electric displacement

Macroscopic electric polarization P gives bound volume charge ρ_b=−∇·P and surface charge σ_b=P·n at a material boundary.

Model
PhysicsMagnetization, bound current and magnetic field strength

Magnetization M contributes bound volume current J_b=∇×M and surface current K_b=M×n.

Model
PhysicsElectromagnetic interface jump conditions

For a stationary interface with unit normal n from medium 1 to 2, n·(D₂−D₁)=σ_free, n·(B₂−B₁)=0, n×(E₂−E₁)=0 and n×(H₂−H₁)=K_free.

Model
PhysicsPlane waves in dielectric matter

In a homogeneous nonmagnetic isotropic dielectric, a monochromatic plane wave has k²=ε_r(ω)ω²/c² and B₀=k×E₀/ω.

Model
Physics · ChemistryLorentz oscillator model of dielectric response

A damped bound-electron oscillator gives ε_r(ω)=1+Ne²/[ε₀m(ω₀²−ω²−iγω)] for the exp(−iωt) convention.

Approximation
PhysicsNormal-incidence Fresnel reflection and transmission

At normal incidence on a lossless nonmagnetic dielectric interface, the electric-amplitude reflection coefficient is r=(n₁−n₂)/(n₁+n₂).

Model
PhysicsNonrelativistic charge radiation

A nonrelativistic accelerated point charge radiates total power P=q²a²/(6πε₀c³).

Model
PhysicsLorentz coordinate transformation

For inertial frames in standard configuration with S′ moving at v along S's x axis, x′=γ_v(x−vt), t′=γ_v(t−vx/c²), y′=y and z′=z, where γ_v=(1−v²/c²)⁻¹ᐟ².

Model
PhysicsProper time, time dilation and length contraction

Along a timelike worldline in an inertial coordinate frame, dτ=dt√(1−u²/c²), and elapsed proper time is its integral.

Model
PhysicsRelativistic velocity transformation

With S′ moving at v along x, a particle's velocities obey u′_x=(u_x−v)/(1−vu_x/c²) and u′_y,z=u_y,z/[γ_v(1−vu_x/c²)].

Model
PhysicsRelativistic energy, momentum and invariant mass

A particle of invariant mass m has p=γ_u m u, E=γ_u mc² and K=(γ_u−1)mc²; E²−|p|²c²=m²c⁴.

Model
Physics · Earth & cosmosLongitudinal relativistic Doppler shift

For a light source and observer receding directly from each other at relative speed v, f_obs=f_source√[(1−v/c)/(1+v/c)].

Model
Physics · ChemistryCrystal lattice, basis and primitive cell

A Bravais lattice consists of translations R=Σ_i n_i a_i with integer n_i and independent primitive vectors.

Definition
Physics · ChemistryReciprocal lattice, Brillouin zone and Bragg condition

Reciprocal vectors obey a_i·b_j=2πδ_ij and G=Σ_i h_i b_i with integer h_i.

Model