master
Unit 004: Understand how to apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering
Glossary of terms
Term
Explanation
Alloy
A metal made up of a combination of two or more materials.
Atmospheric pressure
The weight of air creates a pressure on the Earth’s surface and the pressure exerted by the weight of air pressing down on the ground below will vary depending on the ground’s height above sea level.
Boiling
When a liquid vaporises.
Capillary action
When water is drawn up between close fitting surfaces.
Compression force
A crushing force.
Condensation
When a gas turns into a liquid.
Conduction
Method by which solids transfer heat.
Convection
Method by which liquids and gases transfer heat.
Corrosion
The deterioration of metals that occurs on contact with liquids.
Ductility
Ductility is the ability of a material to withstand distortion without fracture, such as metal that can be drawn into fine wire.
Durability
Durability is the material’s ability to resist wear and tear.
Elasticity
A material’s ability to stretch tensile force is applied to them. When the point is reached that the material will no longer return to it’s original shape and size the material is said to have exceeded it’s elastic limit or yield stress.
Equilibrium
When all acting influences are balanced.
Evaporation
When a liquid turns into a gas.
Ferrous metal
A metal which contains iron.
Freezing
When a liquid turns into a solid.
Fusibility
The melting point of a material, i.e. when a solid changes to a liquid.
Hardness
Hardness is the ability of a material to resist scratching, wear and tear and indentation.
Latent heat
Heat which causes a change of state in a substance, but does not affects its temperature.
Malleability
The ability of a material to be worked without fracture.
Melting
When a solid turns into a liquid.
Non-ferrous metal
A metal which does not contain iron.
Plasticity
The propensity of a material to undergo
Glossary of terms
Term
Explanation
Alloy
A metal made up of a combination of two or more materials.
Atmospheric pressure
The weight of air creates a pressure on the Earth’s surface and the pressure exerted by the weight of air pressing down on the ground below will vary depending on the ground’s height above sea level.
Boiling
When a liquid vaporises.
Capillary action
When water is drawn up between close fitting surfaces.
Compression force
A crushing force.
Condensation
When a gas turns into a liquid.
Conduction
Method by which solids transfer heat.
Convection
Method by which liquids and gases transfer heat.
Corrosion
The deterioration of metals that occurs on contact with liquids.
Ductility
Ductility is the ability of a material to withstand distortion without fracture, such as metal that can be drawn into fine wire.
Durability
Durability is the material’s ability to resist wear and tear.
Elasticity
A material’s ability to stretch tensile force is applied to them. When the point is reached that the material will no longer return to it’s original shape and size the material is said to have exceeded it’s elastic limit or yield stress.
Equilibrium
When all acting influences are balanced.
Evaporation
When a liquid turns into a gas.
Ferrous metal
A metal which contains iron.
Freezing
When a liquid turns into a solid.
Fusibility
The melting point of a material, i.e. when a solid changes to a liquid.
Hardness
Hardness is the ability of a material to resist scratching, wear and tear and indentation.
Latent heat
Heat which causes a change of state in a substance, but does not affects its temperature.
Malleability
The ability of a material to be worked without fracture.
Melting
When a solid turns into a liquid.
Non-ferrous metal
A metal which does not contain iron.
Plasticity
The propensity of a material to undergo