This dictionary is derived from the Concise Science Dictionary, first published by Oxford University Press in 1984 (third edition, 1996). It consists of all the entries relating to physics in
this dictionary, together with some of those entries relating to astronomy that are required for an understanding of astrophysics and many entries that relate to physical chemistry. It also
includes a selection of the words used in mathematics that are relevant to physics, as well as the key words in metal science, computing, and electronics. For this third edition a number of
words from quantum field physics and statistical mechanics have been added. Cosmology and particle physics have been updated and a number of general entries have been expanded. The more
chemical aspects of physical chemistry and the chemistry itself will be found in A Dictionary of Chemistry, which is a companion volume to this dictionary.
An asterisk placed before a word used in an entry indicates that this word can be looked up in the dictionary and will provide further explanation or clarification. However, not every word that
appears in the dictionary has an asterisk placed before it.
Some entries simply refer the reader to another entry, indicating either that they are synonyms or abbreviations or that they are most conveniently explained in one of the dictionary﹀s longer
articles. Synonyms and abbreviations are usually placed within brackets immediately after the headword. Terms that are explained within an entry are highlighted by being printed in italic
type.
A Dictionary of Biology contains the biophysical entries from the Concise Science DictioYlary together with the entries relating to biology.
SI units are used throughout- this book and its companion volumes.
