I glossary entries

Impedance is the complex ratio of voltage to current in an AC circuit, representing both resistive and reactive opposition to current flow.

Impulse response is the time-domain output of a dynamic system produced by an ideal impulse input.

Inductance is the property of a circuit or conductor that relates changing current to magnetic flux linkage and induced voltage.

Inertia is the resistance of mass to changes in motion, appearing as mass in translation and mass moment of inertia in rotation.

Infiltration is the entry of water, air, or another fluid into a porous medium, soil, structure, or enclosure.

Insulation resistance is the resistance offered by insulating material to leakage current between conductive parts.

An interlock is a constraint that prevents a machine, process, or system from entering an unsafe, incompatible, or invalid state.

An inverter is a power electronic converter that converts direct current into alternating current.

Isentropic efficiency compares the actual performance of a turbine, compressor, pump, or nozzle with the ideal performance for an isentropic process between the same inlet and outlet pressure conditions.

Isostatic pressing is a forming and densification process in which a powder compact or part is subjected to nearly equal pressure in all directions.

An iterative solver is a numerical algorithm that repeatedly improves an approximate solution until residuals, updates, or objective changes satisfy a stopping criterion.