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Alpha Decay
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A nuclear reaction in which an particle () is emitted:
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Gamma Decay
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A nuclear reaction in which high-energy photons, also known as y-particles, are emitted:
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Capacitor
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An electric device used in circuits that is composed of two conducting plates separated by a short distance; these devices store electric charge.
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Mass
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A scalar quantity used as a measure of an object's inertia.
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Ohm's Law
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Law stating that the voltage drop across a resistor is proportional to the current flowing through it, given by the equation V=IR.
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Wave Speed
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The speed of a wave, which is related to its frequency and wavelength by the equation .
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Displacement
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A vector quantity describing the straight-line distance between an initial and a final position of some particle or object.
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Electromagnetic Waves
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When an electric field is changing, it causes a change in a magnetic field and vice-versa, resulting in the propagation of a wave containing an electric and a magnetic field that are perpendicular to each other.
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Exponential Decay
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A decrease in the amount of substance N at an exponential rate. Given by the equation:
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Current
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A flow of charge per time. The flow of charge is motivated by a potential difference (voltage). Current is denoted I and can be calculated as . Current is conventionally considered the theoretical movement of positive charge.
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Electric Circuit
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A conducting pathway that contains one or more voltage sources that drive an electric current along that pathway and through connected passive circuit elements (such as resistors).
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Elastic Potential Energy
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The energy associated with stretching or compressing a spring, calculated by the equation and given in the SI unit of joules (J).
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Potential Difference
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The difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field, also called the voltage ().
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Center of Mass
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The point of some object or body where all of its mass is considered to be concentrated. In a uniform gravitational field, this is also the center of gravity.
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Half-Life
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The amount of time it takes for one-half of a radioactive sample to decay, given by the equation , where is a decay constant.
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