Glossary -- F

Fermi's Question

Where are they? Given the vast number of planetary systems, prevalence of the ingredients for life (energy, organic compounds, water), and billions of years of history, why haven't we been contacted yet or found signs of an extra-terrestrial civilization in the Galaxy? Also called "Fermi's Paradox".

filter

thin material that is transparent to only a narrow range of wavelengths of light.

flat universe

a universe that stop expanding only after an infinite amount of time (a special case of an open universe).

flux

the amount of energy passing through a given area (e.g., one square centimeter) in a second. It is the apparent brightness of an object.

focus

one of two special points along the long axis of an ellipse such that the addition of the distances (satellite to focus#1) plus (satellite to focus#2) always equals the same numerical value. It is not at the center of the elliptical orbit unless the orbit is perfectly circular.

force

any action or influence that causes an acceleration.

frequency

the number of wave crests that pass a point every second. Measured in hertz (Hz). For electromagnetic radiation, the frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength.

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last updated: 27 May 2001