Index of physics articles (I)
This is an index page for physics articles beginning with the letter "I". It serves as a navigational tool to quickly locate articles related to specific topics within the field of physics. The entries listed below provide links to more detailed explanations and discussions of each topic. This index is not exhaustive but strives to cover a broad range of significant concepts, theories, and applications in physics.
- Ideal Gas: A theoretical gas composed of a set of randomly moving point particles that do not interact except when they collide elastically.
- Ideal Gas Law: The equation of state of an ideal gas: PV = nRT, relating pressure (P), volume (V), number of moles (n), ideal gas constant (R), and temperature (T).
- Identity (Mathematics): In the context of quantum mechanics, refers to mathematical identities used to simplify equations and perform calculations. Could also refer to symmetry operations that leave a system unchanged.
- Image (Optics): A reproduction of an object formed by an optical system such as a lens or mirror. Can be real or virtual.
- Impedance: A measure of the opposition to the flow of alternating current (AC) in an electrical circuit. It combines resistance and reactance.
- Impulse: The change in momentum of an object when a force acts upon it for an interval of time. Quantitatively, it is the integral of force with respect to time.
- Incandescence: The emission of light by a body due to its high temperature.
- Inclined Plane: A simple machine consisting of a flat surface tilted at an angle, used to reduce the force required to move an object vertically.
- Inductance: The property of an electrical circuit that opposes a change in current.
- Induction: A process by which an electric field (electromagnetic induction) or magnetization (magnetic induction) is produced in an object by a changing magnetic field or magnet, respectively.
- Inelastic Collision: A collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved.
- Inertia: The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.
- Inertial Frame of Reference: A frame of reference in which an object subject to no net force remains at rest or continues to move with constant velocity.
- Infrared: Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light and shorter than those of microwaves.
- Insulator (Electricity): A material that does not readily conduct electric current.
- Integrated Circuit: A miniaturized electronic circuit containing many components, such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors, on a single semiconductor chip.
- Intensity: The power per unit area carried by a wave, such as an electromagnetic wave or a sound wave.
- Interference (Wave): The superposition of two or more waves resulting in either reinforcement (constructive interference) or cancellation (destructive interference) of the waves.
- Intermediate Vector Boson: Force-carrying particles that mediate the weak interaction (W and Z bosons).
- Internal Energy: The total energy contained within a thermodynamic system, excluding the kinetic energy of motion of the system as a whole and the potential energy of the system due to external forces.
- Ion: An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net electric charge.
- Ionization: The process of removing or adding electrons to an atom or molecule, creating an ion.
- Irreversible Process: A thermodynamic process that cannot be reversed without leaving a net change in the surroundings.
- Isobaric Process: A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant pressure.
- Isochoric Process: A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant volume.
- Isothermal Process: A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant temperature.
- Isotope: Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.