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Art of bringing parts of the universe to the perfect state toward which they were thought to aspire - e.g., gold for metals, immortality for human beings.
Industry:Astronomy
1) Spontaneous emission by a heavier element (such as uranium) of positively charged helium nuclei - alpha particles - comprising 2 protons and 2 neutrons. The result of this radioactive decay is that the original element is very gradually converted into another element, with a decreased atomic number and mass. Alpha particle emission may be simultaneous with beta particle decay.
2) The disintegration of an atomic nucleus, in which the final products are an alpha particle and a nucleus with two fewer protons and two fewer neutrons than the original.
Industry:Astronomy
1) Nucleus formed by the α-process (q.v.) (see even-even nuclei.)
2) Particle first discovered in radioactive α decay, and later identified as helium nuclei (two protons and two neutrons bound together.)
3) The nucleus of a 4He atom, consisting of two protons and two neutrons. Mass of α-particle 4.00260 amu.
Industry:Astronomy
A hypothetical process of nucleosynthesis, which consisted of redistributing α-particles in the region from neon 20 to iron 56 (and perhaps slightly higher). The α-process has been replaced by explosive and nonexplosive C, O, and Si burning occurring in rapidly evolving or even explosive stages of stellar evolution which at higher temperatures and densities becomes the e-process.
Industry:Astronomy
1) In Aristotelian physics, the fifth element, of which the stars and planets are made.
2) In Classical physics, an invisible medium that was thought to suffuse all space.
Industry:Astronomy
1) Unit of electric current. "The ampere is that constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed 1 meter apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 × 10-7 newton per meter of length" CIPM 1946, Resolution 2, approved by the 9th CGPM 1948). A current of 1 A is equivalent to the passage along the filament of a light bulb of about 6 × 1018 electronic charges per second.
2) constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed 1 meter apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 × 10-7 newton per meter of length
Industry:Astronomy
The falling off of the energy density of radiation with distance from the source, or with passage through an absorbing or scattering medium.
Industry:Astronomy
the light produced by excited atoms and ions in the upper atmosphere of a planet
Industry:Astronomy
Mantle of gases round a star planet or moon, sometimes even forming the apparent surface of the body. For a body to retain an atmosphere depends on the body's gravity, and the temperature and composition of the gases. Mean atmospheric pressure at the surface is 10330 kg/m2, and is also referred to as atmosphere.
Industry:Astronomy
