physical phenomenon
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| Noun | 1. |  physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energynatural phenomenon - all phenomena that are not artificial acoustic phenomenon - a physical phenomenon associated with the production or transmission of sound atmospheric phenomenon - a physical phenomenon associated with the atmosphere boundary layer - the layer of slower flow of a fluid past a surface chaos - the formless and disordered state of matter before the creation of the cosmos cloud - any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible decalescence - phenomenon that occurs when a metal is being heated and there is a sudden slowing in the rate of temperature increase; slowing is caused by a change in the internal crystal structure of the metal electrical phenomenon - a physical phenomenon involving electricity electricity - a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons energy - any source of usable power; "the DOE is responsible for maintaining the energy policy" energy, free energy - (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs; "energy can take a wide variety of forms" power - (physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second) event - a phenomenon located at a single point in space-time; the fundamental observational entity in relativity theory field of force, force field, field - the space around a radiating body within which its electromagnetic oscillations can exert force on another similar body not in contact with it force - (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity; "force equals mass times acceleration" hysteresis - the lagging of an effect behind its cause; especially the phenomenon in which the magnetic induction of a ferromagnetic material lags behind the changing magnetic field resonance - an excited state of a stable particle causing a sharp maximum in the probability of absorption of electromagnetic radiation mechanical phenomenon - a physical phenomenon associated with the equilibrium or motion of objects opacity - the phenomenon of not permitting the passage of electromagnetic radiation optical phenomenon - a physical phenomenon related to or involving light force per unit area, pressure, pressure level - the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit); "the compressed gas exerts an increased pressure" reflexion, reflection - the phenomenon of a propagating wave (light or sound) being thrown back from a surface refraction - the change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another resolving power, resolution - the ability of a microscope or telescope to measure the angular separation of images that are close together resolution - (computer science) the number of pixels per square inch on a computer-generated display; the greater the resolution, the better the picture conduction, conductivity - the transmission of heat or electricity or sound propagation - the movement of a wave through a medium fundamental interaction, interaction - (physics) the transfer of energy between elementary particles or between an elementary particle and a field or between fields; mediated by gauge bosons surface tension - a phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces syzygy - the straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies (as the sun and earth and moon) in a gravitational system transparence, transparency - permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation turbulence, turbulency - unstable flow of a liquid or gas chop - the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide); "the boat headed into the chop" floatation, flotation - the phenomenon of floating (remaining on the surface of a liquid without sinking) |
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