Physical forces and processes

the measurement of how much light an object can absorb

the way that air slows down a moving object

half of the total height of a wave such as a sound wave or an electrical wave, used as a measurement of how strong it is. The amplitude of a sea wave is its height above the level of water when the water is calm and still.

attraction (noun)

physics a force such as gravity that pulls or keeps things together

balance (noun)

the ability to remain steady in an upright position

bonding (noun)

chemistry the process by which atoms join together

calorific (adjective)

science producing energy or heat

capillary action (noun)

the force that causes a liquid to move up a narrow tube

centrifugal force (noun)

an effect in which an object that is moving around a central point appears to be moved away from the centre by some force

centripetal force (noun)

a force that makes things move towards the centre of something when they are moving around that centre. Gravity is the centripetal force that keeps the planets orbiting around the Sun.

chain reaction (noun)

chemistry a series of chemical or physical reactions, each one of which causes the next one

condensation (noun)

science the process in which a gas changes into a liquid, usually when it becomes cooler

conductive (adjective)

a conductive substance allows heat or electricity to pass through it

conductor (noun)

physics a substance that allows heat or electricity to pass through it

convection (noun)

the process by which the very small parts in a liquid or gas move and give out heat

decompression (noun)

the process of reducing the pressure on something

deflection (noun)

science the amount by which something moves from its original position

diffraction (noun)

the process by which sound, water, and light waves change when they pass over an object or through a narrow space

displacement (noun)

physics the amount of water that an object pushes out of the way when it is placed in water

the Doppler effect (noun)

the change that you notice in a sound, light etc as you get closer to it or further from it

drag (noun)

physics the force that slows something down when it moves through air or liquid

E (abbreviation)

physics energy

effect (noun)

something that regularly happens, according to a law, for example in science

effort (noun)

physics the force used on a machine of any type in order to make it able to move an object

elasticity (noun)

physics the ability of a substance to stretch easily and then return to its original shape quickly

electromagnetic wave (noun)

a wave of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum

electromagnetism (noun)

magnetism that is created by electricity

energy (noun)

science the power that is present in all physical things and that can be changed into something such as heat, movement, or light

equilibrium (noun)

physics a state in which an object is not moving in any way, or is moving at the same rate all the time, because there is a balance between any forces affecting it

explosion (noun)

an occasion when something bursts with a lot of force and a loud noise, often causing damage

fatigue (noun)

a tendency for metal or wood to break as a result of too much pressure

field (noun)

physics an area where a particular force has an effect

flux (noun)

science the rate at which matter or energy flows across a surface or area

force (noun)

the power or energy produced by one thing hitting another

force (noun)

physics a power that makes an object move or that changes the way it moves

friction (noun)

science the physical force that makes it difficult for one surface to move over another

fusion (noun)

a process in which two substances or pieces of a substance join together to form one thing

G (noun)

science gravity: a measurement of the force of gravity

gravitation (noun)

the force that causes objects to move towards each other

gravitational (adjective)

relating to the force of gravity

gravity (noun)

physics the force that makes any two objects that have mass move towards each other. The most common example of this is when an object falls to the ground

heat (noun)

physics the energy that is produced when the temperature of something changes

imaging (noun)

the process of producing an image by using a machine that passes an electronic beam over something

impact (noun)

the force with which one objects hits another

impetus (noun)

physics a force that makes a moving object able to continue moving at the same velocity (=speed), despite any resistance (=force that slows things down)

induction (noun)

physics the production of electrical or magnetic forces in an object by other electrical or magnetic forces near it

inertia (noun)

physics a property of matter that makes an object stay in the same position or continue to move in a straight line until its state is changed by an external force

insulation (noun)

protection from heat, cold, noise, or electricity

irradiation (noun)

physics the visual effect by which a brightly lit thing appears larger against a dark background

jar (noun)

a sudden movement when two solid things knock against each other

kinetic energy (noun)

the energy that an object has as a result of moving

latent heat (noun)

the heat that is taken in or given out when a substance changes its physical state, without affecting the temperature of the substance

leverage (noun)

physics the power that a lever gives you to move things

locomotive (adjective)

involving movement, or making something move

longitudinal wave (noun)

a wave such as a sound wave that moves in the same direction as the movements of the particles of the substance it moves through

magnetic (adjective)

physics a magnetic piece of metal can make iron or steel objects come to it so that they seem to stick to it

magnetic (adjective)

relating to or using magnetism

magnetism (noun)

physics the power that a magnet has to make iron or steel objects come to it so that they seem to stick to it

mechanical (adjective)

physics relating to or produced by physical forces

moment (noun)

physics the tendency of a force to cause a load to move. It is measured by multiplying the force by the distance from the fulcrum.

momentum (noun)

physics the tendency of a moving object to keep moving unless another force stops it or slows it down

motive (adjective)

producing or causing movement

potential energy (noun)

the energy that a body or system has stored because of its position or condition. For example, a raised weight has potential energy.

pressure (noun)

a force pressing on someone or something

pressure (noun)

physics the amount of force that a gas or liquid produces in an area or container

propulsion (noun)

the force that moves or pushes something forward

pull (noun)

a strong physical force that causes things to move in a particular direction

reaction (noun)

physics a physical force that is caused by an opposite physical force, usually producing a form of energy

reflection (noun)

physics the process of reflecting light, sound, or images

relativity (noun)

the relationship between time, space, and movement as described in Einstein’s ‘Theory of Relativity’

repulsion (noun)

physics an electrical or magnetic force that makes things move away from each other

repulsive (adjective)

physics a repulsive force makes things move away from each other

resistance (noun)

physics a force that makes a moving object move more slowly

strength (noun)

the speed or force of wind or water

stress (noun)

physical pressure put on something that can make it change its shape or break

sublimation (noun)

the process in which a substance is changed from a solid substance into a gas or from a gas into a solid substance without first becoming a liquid

suction (noun)

the force by which two surfaces stick to each other when the air between them has been removed

superconductivity (noun)

the ability of some metals to allow electricity to pass through them without any resistance at very low temperatures

surface tension (noun)

the force by which the molecules of a liquid stay close together at the surface to form the smallest possible area

tensile strength (noun)

the ability of something to not break when it is stretched a lot or when a lot of pressure is put on it

thrust (noun)

physics the force that an engine produces to push something forwards

torque (noun)

the force that causes something to turn around a central point

traction (noun)

the action of pulling something over a surface, or the type of power used for pulling

traction (noun)

the ability of wheels to move over a surface without slipping

transmission (noun)

the process of sending power or energy from one place to another

transverse wave (noun)

a wave such as light that makes the substance through which it moves vibrate in a direction that is at 90 degrees to the direction in which it is moving

under pressure ()

if a gas or liquid is under pressure, a lot of it is put into a container so that it comes out with force when the container is opened

upthrust (noun)

physics the force that a liquid or gas directs upwards on an object that is floating on it

vector (noun)

physics a quantity such as velocity (=speed at which something travels) that can change and is measured by its size and its direction

velocity (noun)

the speed that something moves at in one direction

vibration (noun)

a very small, fast, and continuous shaking movement

wave (noun)

physics the way in which sound, light, a radio signal etc travels. It is represented by a line that curves upwards and then downwards again many times.

work (noun)

physics the process of changing energy from one form into another, usually in order to make something move or operate

Synonyms and antonyms of Physical forces and processes in British Thesaurus