Table Of ContentENCYCLOPEDIA OF
Physical Science
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
Physical Science
Joe Rosen, Ph.D., and
Lisa Quinn GothaRD
Katherine Cullen, Ph.D., Managing editor
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Copyright © 2010 by Joe Rosen, Ph.D., and Lisa Quinn Gothard
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the
publisher. For information contact:
Facts On File, Inc.
An Imprint of Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street
New York NY 10001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rosen, Joe, 1937–
Encyclopedia of physical science / Joe Rosen and Lisa Quinn Gothard.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-7011-4 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-8160-7011-3 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-4381-1909-0 (e-book)
1. Physical sciences—Encyclopedias. I. Gothard, Lisa Quinn. II. Title.
Q121.R772009
500.203—dc22 2008036444
Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk
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Text design by Annie O’Donnell
Illustrations by Richard Garratt and Melissa Ericksen
Photo research by Suzanne M. Tibor
Printed in China
CP Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
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Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction viii
Entries Categorized by National Science Education Standards
for Content (Grades 9–12) x
Entries A–Z 1
Feature Essays:
“The Chemistry of Forensic Science” 29
by Amy J. Heston, Ph.D.
“Physics and Chemistry in the Hierarchical Structure of Science” 88
by Joe Rosen, Ph.D.
“Unifi cation: Finding Oneness in Diversity” 162
by Joe Rosen, Ph.D.
“Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs” 254
by Lisa Quinn Gothard
“Uses of Carbon Dioxide: Removal of Harmful Greenhouse Gases” 300
by Lisa Quinn Gothard
“Silicone: A Versatile Polymer” 335
by Lisa Quinn Gothard
“Laws: There Is Order in the World” 444
by Joe Rosen, Ph.D.
“Pharmacogenetics: The Future of Drug Design” 524
by Lisa Quinn Gothard
“Beauty: Only in the Eye of the Beholder?” 542
by Joe Rosen, Ph.D.
“Radiation Therapy: Developments and Discoveries” 578
by Lisa Quinn Gothard
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“Theories: Not Mere Speculations!” 613
by Joe Rosen, Ph.D.
“Physics and Mathematics: A Remarkable Partnership” 672
by Joe Rosen, Ph.D.
Appendixes:
I. Chronology 691
II. Glossary 699
III. Further Resources 733
IV. Periodic Table of the Elements 737
V. SI Units and Derived Quantities 739
VI. Multipliers and Dividers for Use with SI Units 740
VII. Common Ions 741
VIII. Physical Constants 742
IX. Astronomical Data 743
X. Abbreviations and Symbols for Physical Units 744
XI. The Greek Alphabet 745
XII. Some Conversions within the Metric System 746
XIII. Common Conversions from U.S. Customary to Metric Unit Values 747
XIV. Temperature Conversions 748
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Acknowledgments
We would like to express appreciation to Frank K. and to suzie tibor for performing the expert photo
Darmstadt, executive editor, and to Katherine research. the guest essayist, Dr. amy J. heston,
e. Cullen, managing editor, for their critical review deserves recognition for generously donating time to
of this manuscript, wise advice, patience, and profes- share her expert knowledge about forensic chemis-
sionalism. thank you to the graphics department try. appreciation is also extended to the production
for creating the line illustrations that accompany and copyediting departments and the many others
the entries in this work, to alana Braithwaite for who helped in the production of this project. thank
expertly assembling all of the manuscript materials, you all.
vii
Introduction
Encyclopedia of Physical Science is a two-volume all categories collectively convey the relationship
reference intended to complement the material between science and individuals and science and
typically taught in high school physics and chemis- society.
try and in introductory college physics and chemis- the majority of this encyclopedia comprises more
try courses. the substance refl ects the fundamental than 200 entries covering nses concepts and topics,
concepts and principles that underlie the content theories, subdisciplines, biographies of people who
standards for science identifi ed by the national Com- have made signifi cant contributions to the physical
mittee on science education standards and assess- sciences, common methods, and techniques relevant
ment of the national Research Council for grades to modern science. entries average approximately
9–12. Within the category of physical science, these 2,000 words each (some are shorter, some longer),
include structure of atoms, structure and properties and most include a cross-listing of related entries
of matter, chemical reactions, motions and forces, and a selection of recommended further readings. in
conservation of energy and increase in disorder, and addition, 12 essays are included covering a variety of
interactions of energy and matter. the national sci- subjects—contemporary topics of particular interest
ence education standards (nses) also place impor- and specifi c themes common to the physical sciences.
tance on student awareness of the nature of science more than 150 photographs and more than 150 line
and the process by which modern scientists gather art illustrations accompany the text, depicting diffi -
information. to assist educators in achieving this cult concepts, clarifying complex processes, and sum-
goal, other subject matter discusses concepts that marizing information for the reader. a chronology
unify the physical sciences with life science and earth outlines important events in the history of the fi eld,
and space science: science as inquiry, technology and a glossary defi nes relevant scientifi c terminology.
and other applications of scientifi c advances, science the back matter of Encyclopedia of Physical Science
in personal and social perspectives including topics contains a list of additional print and Web resources
such as natural hazards and global challenges, and for readers who would like to explore the discipline
the history and nature of science. a listing of entry further. in the appendixes readers can fi nd a periodic
topics organized by the relevant nses Content stan- table of the elements, some common conversions,
dards and an extensive index will assist educators, and tables of physical constants, astronomical data,
students, and other readers in locating information abbreviations and symbols for physical units, the
or examples of topics that fulfi ll a particular aspect of Greek alphabet, and multipliers and dividers for use
their curriculum. with si units.
Encyclopedia of Physical Science provides his- Lisa Gothard has 10 years’ experience teach-
torical perspectives, portrays science as a human ing high school and college level physical science,
endeavor, and gives insight into the process of sci- biology, and chemistry. she obtained a bachelor of
entifi c inquiry by incorporating biographical pro- science degree in molecular biology from Vanderbilt
fi les of people who have contributed signifi cantly university in nashville, tennessee, where she received
to the development of the sciences. instruments and a howard hughes Fellowship for undergraduate
methodology-related entries focus on the tools and research. she holds a master of science degree in bio-
procedures used by scientists to gather information, chemistry from the university of Kentucky. she has
conduct experiments, and perform analyses. other coauthored peer-reviewed journal articles in the fi eld
entries summarize the major branches and subdisci- of gene expression and the role of chaperones in pro-
plines of physical science or describe selected appli- tein folding. she is currently teaching at east Canton
cations of the information and technology gleaned high school in east Canton, ohio, where she lives
from physical science research. Pertinent topics in with her husband and four children.
viii
Introduction ix
Joe Rosen has been involved in physics research Joe Rosen has been living in the Washington, D.C.,
and teaching for more than four decades. after area, where he does visiting and adjunct teaching at
obtaining his doctorate in theoretical physics from colleges and universities in the area, currently at the
the hebrew university of Jerusalem, he did one year George Washington university. he has written or
of postdoctoral work in the physics department of edited 11 books and continues writing and carrying
Boston university and three at Brown university. he out research in his current fields of interest: symmetry,
then joined the faculty of the school of Physics and space, time, space-time, and the quantum. his career
astronomy of tel aviv university, where he spent the has allowed him to keep abreast of, and even contrib-
largest portion of his academic career. he has taught ute to, the exciting developments in physics that have
most of the standard undergraduate physics courses been taking place since the late 20th century.
as well as many graduate-level courses. his last full- Both authors hope that this encyclopedia will
time job was chair of the Department of Physics and serve you as a valuable reference, and that you will
astronomy of the university of Central arkansas. learn as much from referring to it as we have from
since retiring from tel aviv and Central arkansas, writing it.
