Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

cosmology

(Encyclopedia)cosmology, area of science that aims at a comprehensive theory of the structure and evolution of the entire physical universe. The earliest pre-Ptolemaic theories assumed that the earth was the cent...

continental drift

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Continental drift (arrows indicate the directions of motion of the landmasses) A. Proposed reconstruction of the supercontinent Pangaea indicating the major present landmasses B. Proposed recon...

integer

(Encyclopedia)integer: see number; number theory. ...

Beethoven, Ludwig van

(Encyclopedia)Beethoven, Ludwig van lŭdˈwĭg văn bāˈtōvən, Ger. lo͝otˈvĭkh fän bātˈhōfən [key], 1770–1827, German composer. He is universally recognized as one of the greatest composers of the West...

sound

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Sound waves: An air pressure wave radiating outward from a loudspeaker is perceived as sound. sound, any disturbance that travels through an elastic medium such as air, ground, or water to be ...

political science

(Encyclopedia)political science, the study of government and political processes, institutions, and behavior. Government and politics have been studied and commented on since the time of the ancient Greeks. However...

ideal gas

(Encyclopedia)ideal gas: see gas laws; kinetic-molecular theory of gases. ...

Leucippus

(Encyclopedia)Leucippus lo͞osĭpˈəs [key], 5th cent. b.c., Greek philosopher. Aristotle believed that Leucippus inspired the atomistic theory with which Democritus is identified. Little is known about Leucippus....

Lowie, Robert Harry

(Encyclopedia)Lowie, Robert Harry, or Robert Heinrich Lowie lōˈē [key], 1883–1957, American anthropologist, b. Vienna, grad. College of the City of New York, 1901, Ph.D. Columbia, 1908. He was on the staff of ...

Markowitz, Harry Max

(Encyclopedia)Markowitz, Harry Max märˈkəwĭtsˌ [key], 1927–, American economist, Ph.D. Univ. of Chicago, 1954. In the 1950s he developed a theory of “portfolio choice,” which allows investors to analyze ...