Flange packA condition where the tape pack is wound up against one of the flanges of the tape reel.
FlashA sudden, brief illumination of a conductive channel associated with lightning, which may contain multiple strokes with their associated stepped leaders…
flash cardIn computer-based equipment (such as MP3 players, digital cameras, and palm-held computers), a type of memory storage device approximately the size of a…
flash featureA supplementary calling feature provided by the near-end customer interface (CI) that is activated or controlled through the use of one or more flash…
Flash introan animated 'short' created using Flash that Internet users are made to sit through upon entry to a home page. Flash intros annoy users.
FLASH messageA category of precedence reserved for initial enemy contact messages or operational combat messages of extreme urgency. Brevity is mandatory. [JP 1-02]
flash signalA loop-open signal of 300 to 1000 ms at the network interface (NI) that is generated by the network, typically under the control of the far-end customer…
flat fadingFading in which all frequency components of a received radio signal vary in the same proportion simultaneously.
flat rate serviceTelephone service in which a single payment permits an unlimited number of local calls to be made without further charge for a specified period of time.
flat weightingIn a noise-measuring set, a noise weighting based on an amplitude-frequency characteristic that is flat over a frequency range that must be stated.
flavorPre-OGSI Globus description term that uniquely encompasses Machine Architecture, OS, Compiler and other attributes into a single term, for example…
flaw1. In computer security, an error of commission, an omission, or an oversight that allows protection mechanisms to be bypassed or disabled. 2.
flaw hypothesis methodology1. System analysis and penetration technique in which the specification and documentation for an information system (IS) are analyzed to produce a list of…
Fleming's ruleA rule stating that if the thumb of the right hand points in the direction of an electric current, then the curled fingers point in the direction of the…
flexible capacityThis flexible capacity is a key difference between cloud computing and traditional outsourcing and hosted data centers.
Flexible ResponseThe capability of military forces for effective reaction to any enemy threat or attack with actions appropriate and adaptable to the circumstances…
flickerIn video, any of several visual artifacts similar to (i.e., manifested as) a stroboscopic effect (jerkiness), sometimes caused by or related to vertical…
Flight PathThe line connecting the successive positions occupied, or to be occupied, by an aircraft, missile, or space vehicle as it moves through air or space.
Flight Readiness FiringA missile system test of short duration conducted with the propulsion system operating while the missile is secured to the launcher.
Flight TestTest of an aircraft, rocket, missile, or other vehicle by actual flight or launching.
Flight Test Vehicle (FTV)Prototype of airborne or spaceborne hardware used to validate a technology concept.
flip-flopA device that may assume either one of two reversible, stable states. Note 1: The flip-flop is used as a basic control element in computer and…
Float1) The amount of uncollected funds represented by checks in the possession of one bank but drawn on other banks.
float operationOperation of a dc system with the battery, rectifier, and load all connected in parallel.
FloatingThe process of an applicant deciding against locking-in an interest rate at the time of application and instead electing to float with the market until a…
Floating AdsAn ad that appears within the main browser window on top of the page's normal content, appearing to "float" over the top of the page.
floating headA magnetic head floating on a layer of air away from the recording surface. Synonyms air-floating head, flying head. [ANSDIT]
floating pointA method of storing numbers in "scientific notation", such that the precision of the number is independent of its magnitude (the decimal point "floats").
floating-point coding compactionData compaction accomplished by using coefficients, a base, and exponents to specify the scale, range, or magnitude of numbers.
flood projectionIn facsimile, the optical method of scanning in which the object is floodlighted and the scanning spot is defined by a masked portion of the illuminated…
flood search routingIn a telephone network, nondeterministic routing in which a dialed number received at a switch is transmitted to all switches, i.e.
floodingInsertion of a large volume of data resulting in denial of service. [INFOSEC-99] Synonyms [in e-mail and forum postings] mail bombing, spamming; [in radio…
flooding compoundA substance surrounding the buffer tubes of a fiber-optic cable, to prevent water intrusion into the interstices in the event of a breach of the jacket.
floor loadcapacity of a floor area to support a given weight expressed in terms of weight per unit of area
floor space ratiofiling capacity expressed in cubic volume of records per square unit of floor space
floppy diskA circular sheet of polyester coated with magnetic oxide and housed in a thin, square plastic jacket that is used as a removable data storage medium See…
flopsAcronym for floating-point operations per second. Note: For example, 15 Mflops equals 15 million floating-point arithmetic operations per second.
flowchartA graphical representation using symbols to document the flow of information, the decision-making process, and/or the sequence of operations that are to…
flowlineOn a flowchart, a line that (a) has an indicated direction, (b) represents a connection between other symbols, and (c) indicates the sequence of…
Fluence (or Integrated Flux)The product (or integral) of particle (neutron or photon) flux and time, expressed in units of particles per square centimeter.
flusha hand of five cards all of the same suit, irrespective of value
flutterRapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency. Note: Examples of flutter are (a) rapid variations in received signal…
FluxThe amount of energy passing through a unit area (for example, 1m2) per time. On this website, we will be discussing the flux of light energy due to…
Flyaway CostThe total cost related to the production of a usable end item of military hardware.
FM blanketingThat form of interference to the reception of other broadcast stations, which is caused by the presence of an FM broadcast signal of 115 dB (562 mV/m) or…
FM improvement factorThe quotient obtained by dividing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the output of an FM receiver by the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) at the input of the…
FM improvement thresholdThe point in an FM receiver at which the peaks in the rf signal equal the peaks of the thermal noise generated in the receiver.
FM threshold effectIn an FM receiver, the effect produced when the desired-signal gain begins to limit the desired signal, and thus noise limiting (suppression).
FM threshold extensionA change in the value of the FM threshold of a receiver. Note: FM threshold extension may be obtained by decreasing the operational bandwidth, thus…
FMTEYEWTKFar More Than Everything You Ever Wanted To Know. An exhaustive treatise on one narrow topic, something of a super-"FAQ". See Tom for far more.
FMTVFamily of Medium Tactical Vehicles (USA term).
FNFast-Narrow. A type of SCSI bus that supports 8-bit transfer.
Focal PlaneThe plane, perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, in which images of points in the object field of the lens are focused.
Focal Plane Array (FPA)An FPA is a matrix of photon sensitive detectors which, when combined with low noise preamplifiers, provides image data for the signal frequencies of…
FogFine particles of liquid suspended in the air, such as of water in a fog chamber used for acclimatizing recent ex vitro transplants. See: mist propagation.
FOIAFreedom of Information Act -- see Electronic Freedom of Information Act for more
Folded OpticsAny optical system containing reflecting components for the purpose of reducing the physical length of the system or for the purpose of changing the path…