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IS 1885-73-1 (1993): Electrotechnical Vocabulary, Part 73:

Physics and chemistry, Section 01: Physical concepts [ETD
1: Basic Electrotechnical Standards]

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Indian Standard

ELECTROTECHNICALVOCABULARY
PART

73 PHYSICS

AND CHEMISTRY

Section 1 Physical Concepts

UDC

530-19 : 621-3.01 : 001.4

Q BIS 1993

BUREAU
MANAK

OF

BHAVAN.

INDIAN
9 BAHADUR

NEW DELHI
July 1993

STANDARDS
SHAH ZAFAR

MARG

110002
Price!Group 4

Basic Electrotechnical

NATlONAL

Standards

Sectional Committee,

ET 01

FOREWORD

This Indian Standard ( Part 73/Set 1 ) which is identical with IEC Pub 50 ( 111-01 ) ( 1982 ) International
eiectrotechnical
vocabulary - Chapter 111 : Physics and Chemistry, Section 01 : Physical
concepts issued by International Electrotechnical
Commission ( IEC ), was adopted by the Bureau of
Indian Standards on the recommendation
of the Basic Electrotechnical
Standards Sectional Committee,
ET 01 and approval of the Electrotechnical
Division Council.
Only the English text given in the IEC Publication has been retained while adopting as Indian
Standard, and as such the page numbers given here are not same as in IEC Publication.

IS 1885 ( 1at-t 73/Set

II3

1 ) : lY93

iJut)50 ( 11141 ) ( 1982 )

Indian Standard

ELECTROTECHNICALVOCABULARY
PART 73

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY

Section 1 Physical Concepts

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

Thepurposeof
I.E.V.advanceeditionsisto
permit theissuewithout!ossof
timeof terminologyworkwhose
publication
would otherwise be delayed and, in particular, workwhich does not exaclly correspond to the general plan of the IEV.:
for example, incomplete chapters, vocabularies extending beyond the framework of a normal chapter or work relatmg
to rapidly evolving fields. Advance editions may, in certain cases. he incomplete, particular!y as regards the Russian
text and the terms in the additional languages, when the appropriate information is not available at the time of printing.

Remarks:

111-01-05
moment of inertia (1)

1. In the following

definitions, body is used in

its most general sense including the solid, liquid
and gaseous forms of a given sample of matter.
2. The phrase quantity Aper unit of quantity B
means the limit of the quotient of quantity AA
by quantity A B, i.e.
Iim (A A/A B)
AB+O
3. In every branch of physics it is necessary to
accept a minimum number of axioma tic concepts. In section 111 A --+ 01, mass and electric
charge are introduced axiomatically.

(about an axis)
For a body, the pum of the products of the mass of each
particle and the square of its distance from a given axis.
I = 2 (m; YY,
ill-0146
angular momentum
moment of momeutum
1. For a particle in motion, a quantity equal to the
vcctorproduct ofthe radius vector and the linear
momentum.
2. For a body in motion, the vector sum of the
angular momenta of its constituent particles.

111-01-01
iiiertia

Note -

That property of matter by virtue ofwhich any material

body continues in its existing state of movement or rest,
in the absence of an external force.

111-01-07

moment of a force (at a point) (M)

111-01-02
mass (m)

At a point A, the quantity given by the vector product

,$ fundamental
quantity axiomatically
describe inertia and gravitation.

designed

of the vector G

to

The sum of the moments of a set of forces about a point.

Note. - If the resultant of the forces is zero, the torque is
independent of the point chosen.
111-01-09
work(W)

2. For a body, the vector sum of the momenta of

its constituent particles.
111-01-04
(mechanical)

Aquantity equal to the scalar product of a force and the

corresponding displacement vector.
111-01-10
energy (E )

force (F)

A vector quantity
linear momentum.

equal to the time derivative

by the tbrcc 7 applied at the point B.

111-01-08 torque (about a point) (T)

111-01-03
(linear) momentum (p)
1. For a particle, a vector quantity equal to the
product of its mass and its velocity.

Note. -

The angular momentum of a rigid body rotating

around a fixed axis is equal to the product of the
moment of inertia and the angular velocity vector.

of the

A quantity characterizing
tern to do work.

the mass is constant, the force is equal to the

product of the mass of a body and its vector accelerdlion.

When

Note. -

the ability of a physical sys-

Energy exists in different forms transformable one

are mechanical,
examples
into the other
electromagnetic, chemical, thermal, neclear, etc.

:3/srr

1 ) : 1993

IEC PutI 50 ( Ill-01

1s 18X5 ( k-t

) ( 1982 )
111-01-21
photon

111-01-11
power (P )

The time rate of transferring

of doing work.

or transforming

A quantum of electromagnetic
energy Izv with some
particle-like characteristics, where k is the Planck constant and v the frequency of radiation.

energy, or

111-01-12

111-01-22

stress

phonon

The force per unit area acting upon a bddy which tends
to change the dimensions of the latter.

A quantum

of mechanical
ticle-like characteristics.

111-01-13
produced in a body as the result of stress.

A fundamental
quantity axiomatically
defined to
describe certain experimentally observed interactions.

111-01-14
pressure (in a fluid) (u)
A type of stress, characterized
directions.

by its unifonnity

111-01-24

in all

elementary

energy

(Q)

The internal

(e)

of electric

charge

111-01-25

heat energy
disordered

(electric) charge

The magnitude of the quantum

(0.160219 x lo-* $I).

111-01-15
thermal

energy with par-

111-01-23
electric charge (Qj

strain

Deformation

vibratory

atom

kinetic energy of a body, related to the

tnotions of its constituents.

The smallest particle into which a chemical element

can be divided while retaining its chemical properties.

111-01-16
(thermodynamic)

temperature

Astate variable proportional

given body at equilibrium.

111-01-26
nucleus

(T)

to the thermal energy of a

The central part of an atom having a positive

and nearly ail the mass of the atom.

charge

111-01-17
internal

energy

111-01-27
electron

(Or)

The function of state equal to the sum of the work and

the thermal energy that would be delivered by a body
during cooling to the thermodynamic
tempera re of
zero kelvin.

A stable elementary particle with one negative elementa y charge and a rest mass of 0.91095 x 10P3 kg.
lvc?tc - The term electron is sometimes used loosely to
include both electrons and positrons.

111-01-18
enthalpy

111-01-28

(H)

positron

A tinction of state equal to the sum of the internal

energy of a body and the product of its pressure and its
volume.

An

elementary
particle
with practically the same
mass as the electron but with a positive elementary
charge.

H=U+yV
ill-01-19
entropy (S)

ill-Ol-2Y
proton

A function of state whose differential

ible transformation is

during a revers-

A stable elementary particle with one positive elementary charge and a rest mass of 1.67265 x 10ez7 kg.

dS = 6 Q/T

111-01-30
mean life (of a particle)

where 6 Q is the thermal energy supplied to the physical system by the external environment
at thermodynamic temperature 7:
N&e. -

In an exponentially decaying
which the number of particles
of naperian logarithms.

Entropy is related to the degree of disorder of a

physical system.

111-01-20
quantum

population, the time in

is divided by e, the base

111-01-31
neutron

The smallest amount of a physical quantity that can be

associated with a given phenomenon, when the observable quantity is restriced to a discrete set of values.

An elementary

particle having no electric charge, a rest

mass approximately equal to that of a proton and in the
free state a mean life of about 1000 s.

_,
,_,

.n,..

l.,le.

1.1,

...,li.l

..I

),_,_

__X-,-II_-.---..~l---

..-

_._,

-I..

_.^_.

--

.-

._. . ..----.---

IS 18X5 ( Part 73/&c

I ) : 1993

115C 1111)50 ( 111-01 ) ( 1982 )

111-01-32
nucleon

111-01-43
ionization

Generic term for a constituent

either proton or neutron.

0C an atomic nucleus,

The formation of ions.

111-01-44
electron gas

111-01-33
mass number (of a nucleus) (A)
The total number of nucleons contained

An aggregate of free electrons exhibiting

ties of a gas.

in a nucleus.

111-01-34
atomic number (2)

111-01-45
ground state

The order of an element in the periodic (Mendeleev)

chemical classification, identified with the number of
protons in the nucleus.

The state corresponding

Note. --

some proper-

to the lowest energy level.

111-01-46
excited state

Z =A - N where N is the number of neutrons in the

A state corresponding to an energy level higher than

that of the ground state.

nucleus.

111-01-35
nuclide

111-01-47
excitation energy

A species of atom characterized by its mass number,

atomic number and nuclear energy state, provied that the
mean life in that state is long enough to be observable.

The energy necessary to raise a quantized system from

the ground state to a given excited state.

111-01-36
isotope

111-01-48
resonance state

One of a set of nuclides having the same lumber of

protons, hence constituting the same chemical element,
but differing in number of neutrons.

An excited state from which the transition directly to

the ground state by emission of a photon is permitted.
111-01-49
metastable state

111-01-37
free electron

Ao excited state from which the transition

lower energy is normally forbidden.

An electron, not directly associated with the structure

of an atom or molecule, free to move under the
infIuence of an applied electric field.

Note. -

111-01-38
energy level

111-01-50
energy band

The energy associated

physical system.

with a

quantum

The energy is often transferred to another particle

3uch as molecule, atom or electron.

A virtually
stance.

state of a

continuous

WI of energy levels in a sub-

111-01-51
permitted band

111-01-39
bound electron

An energy band each level of which may be occupied

by electrons.

An electron in one of the quantized energy levels of an

atom or molecule, not free to move under the influence
of an applied electric field.

111-01-52
forbidden band

111-01-40
valence electron

An energy band that cannot be .occupied by electrons.

ill-01-53
energy gap

An electron, usually in the outer shell of the structure

of an atom, commonly the means by which the atom
enters into chemical combinations.

The smallest energy difference between two neighbouring permitted bands separted by a forbidden band.

111-01-41
molecule

111-01-54
Fermi (characteristic

A particle comprising a group of atoms bonded by

valence electrons and forming a structure that persists
as a unit through changes of physical state.
111-01-42
ion
Any atom or bonded
electric charge.

to a state of

energy) level

In a solid, the energy level separating the occupied

states from the unoccupied states at a thermodynamic
temperature of zero kelvin.
Note. -

group of atoms that has a net

When a forbidden band separates the occupied and

unoccupied states, the Fermi level is generally assigned to the centre of the forbidden band.

IS 1885 ( Part 73/Set 1 ) : 1993

1Fx: PIllI 50 ( Ill-01 ) ( 1982 )

The permitted band occupied by the valence electrons.

mean velocity of a charge carrier in the direction of

an electric field by the modulus of the strength of this
field.

111-01-56
conduction

111-01-68
mean free path

111-01-55
valence band

band

A permitted band incompletely

111-01-57
conduction

The average distance travelled by a particle between

two successive collisions with other particles.

occupied by electrons.

111-01-69
collision of the first kind

electron

An electron of a conduction band free to move under

the influence of an electric field.

A collision in which a quantum of energy given to an

atom is supplied by the incident particle.

111-01-58
hole
Avacancy appearing in a normally-filled
behaving like a positive charge carrier.
Note. -

111-01-70
collision of the second kind

cncrgy band,

A collision in which the quantum or quanta of energy

taken from an atom increase the energy of the incident
particle.

A hole is frequently produced by the elevation of an

electron from thevalence band to theconduction band
and produces what is called an electmn-holepuir

111-01-71
effective collision cross-section

111-01-59
charge carrier

The probability of collision per unit path-length of the

incident particles divided by the number density of the
particles constituting the target.

P. particlc such as an electron, proton, ion and, by

extension, a hole, having one or more elementary
electric charges.

111-01-72
ionization

111-01-60
electron emission
The release of electrons from the surface of a body into
the adjacent space.
111-01-61
thermionic

111-M-73
probability

emission

etnission

111-01-63
field emission

Thermionic,

coefficient

The average number of pairs of ions of opposite sign

that a particle with a given kinetic energy produces per
unit path length under specified conditions.

due to the action of a strong electric

Note.

positive ion and an electron are considered

to be a pair of ions.
A

also

emission

photoelectric

111-01-6s
secotldary-electron

of ionization

111-01-74
s$ecitied ionization

Electron emission due to the incidence of photons.

111-01-64
primary-electron

or

The ratio of the number of collisions followed by

ionization to the total number of collisions during a
specified time.

111-01-62

Electron emission
field.

an atom

(by collision)

Electron emission due to thermal agitation.

photoelectric

energy

The least energy necessary to ionize

molecule from its ground state.

111-01-75
ionization rate

or field emission.

The number of pairs of ions produced per unit volume

per unit time.

emission

Electron emission due to the bombardment

ting surlYIce by rlectron~ or ions.

ofthc emit-

11 I-O! -76
reccrnubination

111-01-66
work function

LJnio:~of charge carriers of opposite signs.

The least energy required for the emission of a cc&ut

lion electron.
M-01-67
mobility (of a charge carrier)

111-01-77
de-ionization

A quantity equal to the quotient of the modulus of the

Recombination
4

of ions in an ionized fluid.

r_
-

IS 1x85 ( Iurt 73iSrr

1 ) : ;993

11X Iuh 50 ( 111-01 ) ( 1982 )

111-01-80

111-01-78
recombination

recombination

rate

The number of pairs of charge carriers recombined

unit volume per unit time.
111-01-79
de-ionization

per

111-01-81
plasma

rate

The number of pairs of ions rccon&ined

volume per unit time.

coefficient

The quotient of recombination rate by the square of the

charge carrier density of the recombining charges.

per unit

A conductive gaseous medium composed of free

electrons, ions and neutral particles which macroscopitally IS approximately electrically neutral.

IS 1X85 ( Putt 73/St$ I ) : I9Y3

11-x 1111)
50 ( 11141 )

IYXZ )

INDEX
A

angular momentum
atom
atomic number

111-01-06

inertia

111-01-01

111-01-25
111-01-34

internal energy
ion
ionization
ionization energy
ionization rate
isotope

111-01-17
111-01-42
111-01-43
lli-01-72
111-01-75
111-01-36

B
bound electron

111-01-39
C

charge carrier
collision of the first kind
collision of the second kind
conduction band
conduction electron

111-01-59
111-01-69
111-01-70
111-01-56
111-01-57

mass
mass number (of a nucleus)
mean free path
mean life (of a particle)
mechanical force
metastable state
molecule
moment of a force (at a point)
moment of inertia (about an axis)
moment of momentum
mementum (linear)
mobility (of a charge carrier)

D
de-ionization
de-ionization

* 111-01-77
rate

111-01-79

E
effective collision cross section
electric charge
electron
electron emission
electron gas
elementary (electric) charge
energy
energy band
energy gap
energy level
enthalpy
entropy
excited stale
excitation energy

111-01-71
111-01-23
111-01-27
111-01-60
111-01-44
111-01-24
111-01-10
111-01-50
111-01-53
111-01-38
111-01-18
111-01-19
111-01-46
111-01-47

N
neutron
nucleon

energy) level

P
permitted band
phonon
photoelectricemission
photon
plasma
positron
power
pressure (in a fluid)
primary-electron emission
probability of ionization (by collision)
proton

111-01-54

tield emission

111-01-63

forbidden band
free electron
force (mechanical)

111-01-52
111-01-37
111-01-04

111-01-31
111-01-32
11 l-01-26
111-01-35

nucleus
nuclide

F
Fermi (characteristic

111-01-02
111-01-33
111-01-68
111-01-30
111-01-04
111-01-49
111-01-41
111-01-07
111-01-05
111-01-06
111-01-03
111-01-67

111-01-51
111-01-22
111-01-62
111-01-21
I I l-01-81
11l-01-28
111-01-11
111-01-14
111-01-64
111-01-73
111-01-29

Q
G
ground state

quantum

111-01-20

111:01-45
R

H
heat energy
hole

,$

recombination
recombination coefficient
recombination rate
resonance state

111-01-15
111-01-58

111-01-76
111-01-80
111-01-78
111-01-48

1s 1885 ( IM-t 73/&x! 1 ) : 199.1

IEC lub 50 ( Ill-01

s
secondary-electron

emission

111-01-65

specific ionization coefficient

111-01-74

strain

111-01-13

stress

lil-01-12

thermionic emission,
torque (about a point)

) ( 1982 )
111-01-61
111-01-08

V
valence hand
valence electron

111-01-55
l&1-01-40

temperature (thermodynamic)

111-01-16

thermal energy

111-01-15

work
work function

111-01-09
111-01-66

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