Kilojoule.
A compound unit; one thousand joules, q. v.
Kilometer.
A compound unit; one thousand meters; 3280.899 feet; 0.621382 statute
miles. (See Meter.)
Kilowatt.
A compound unit; one thousand watts, q. v.
Kine.
An absolute or C. G. S. unit of velocity or rate of motion; one
centimeter per second; proposed by the British Association.
Kirchoff's Laws.
These relate to divided circuits.
I. When a steady current branches, the quantity of electricity arriving
by the single wire is equal to the quantity leaving the junction by the
branches. The algebraical sum of the intensities of the currents passing
towards (or passing from) the junction is equal to zero; Summation(C) =
0 (Daniell.) In the last sentence currents flowing towards the point are
considered of one sign and those flowing away from it of the other.
II. In a metallic circuit comprising within it a source of permanent
difference of potential, E, the products of the intensity of the current
within each part of the circuit into the corresponding resistance are,
if the elements of current be all taken in cyclical order together,
equal to E; Summation(C * r) =E. In a metallic circuit in which there is
no source of permanent difference of potential E = 0, and Summation(C *
r) = 0.
This law applies to each several mesh of a wire network as well as to a
single metallic loop, and it holds good even when an extraneous current
is passed through the loop. (Daniell.)
In this statement of the two laws E stands for electro-motive force, C
for current intensity; and r for resistance of a single member of the
circuit.
[Transcriber's note: These laws may be restated as: At any point in an
steady-state electrical circuit, the directed sum of currents flowing
towards that point is zero. The directed sum of the electrical potential
differences around any closed circuit is zero.]
Knife-edge Suspension.
The suspension of an object on a sharp edge of steel or agate. The knife
edge should abut against a plane. The knife edge is generally carried by
the poised object. Its edge then faces downward and on the support one
or more plane or approximately plane surfaces are provided on which it
rests. In the ordinary balance this suspension can be seen. It is
sometimes used in the dipping needle.
It is applied in cases where vertical oscillations are to be provided
for.
Knot.
The geographical mile; a term derived from the knots on the log line,
used by navigators. It is equal to 6,087 feet.
Synonyms--Nautical Mile--Geographical Mile.
[Transcriber's note: A knot is a velocity, 1 nautical mile per hour, not
a distance. The contemporary definition is: 1 international knot = 1
nautical mile per hour = 1.852 kilometres per hour = 1.1507794 miles per
hour = 0.51444444 meters per second = 6076.1152 feet per hour.]