Dictionary of Energy
Covering all aspects of energy and its role in society, this unique text provides a comprehensive and organized body of knowledge on what is certain to become an increasingly vital area of scientific study in the 21st century.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Dictionary of Energy
Z: ZAFC Zworykin, Vladimir
ZAFC Zworykin, Vladimir
ZAFC
zinc-air fuel cell.
Zeeman effect
Physics. a phenomenon in which the spectral lines associated with atomic or molecular radiation are split into equally spaced levels (with small separation) when the material is subjected to a static magnetic field. [Named for Dutch physicist Pieter Zeeman, 1865 1943.]
Zeldovich, Yakov
1914 1987, Russian physicist who first identified the chemical mechanism for producing active nitrogen from molecular nitrogen in the gas phase (1947). His research was fundamental to later work aimed at reducing atmospheric pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Zeldovich mechanism
Earth Science. a description of the production of nitric oxide and nitric dioxide from molecular nitrogen in the gas phase; these reactions are thought to account for much of the active nitrogen formed in hot exhaust gases from combustion sources and following rapid heating of the air during lightning discharges.
zenith
Physics. the point on any given observer s celestial sphere that lies directly above that observer (i.e., that is exactly vertical); the point that is elevated 90 from all points on the observer s astronomical horizon.
zenith angle
Solar. the angle between the center of the sun s disc and the vertical.
Zeppelin, Ferdinand von
1838 1917, German military officer who developed the rigid dirigible, a lighter-than-air vehicle (1900). Safety problems that led to accidents, especially the crash of the Hindenburg in 1937, brought an...
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