Scattering: meaning, definitions and examples
🌌
scattering
[ ˈskætərɪŋ ]
physics
The process in which a beam of particles or waves is dispersed or spread out in different directions.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The scattering of light by air molecules is what makes the sky appear blue.
- X-ray scattering is a useful technique for studying the structure of materials.
- The scattering of sound waves can be influenced by various obstacles in the environment.
mathematics
The random distribution of data points away from a central value in a graph or plot.
Synonyms
deviation, dispersion, variability
Examples of usage
- The scattering of data points in the scatter plot indicates a lack of correlation.
- In statistical analysis, the scattering of points can help identify outliers in the data set.
general
To cause particles or waves to disperse or spread out in different directions.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The wind scattering the leaves across the lawn.
- The speaker's voice scattering in the large auditorium.
Translations
Translations of the word "scattering" in other languages:
🇵🇹 dispersão
🇮🇳 बिखराव
🇩🇪 Streuung
🇮🇩 penyebaran
🇺🇦 розсіювання
🇵🇱 rozpraszanie
🇯🇵 散乱 (sanran)
🇫🇷 dispersion
🇪🇸 dispersión
🇹🇷 dağılma
🇰🇷 산란 (sallan)
🇸🇦 تبعثر (tabaathur)
🇨🇿 rozptyl
🇸🇰 rozptýlenie
🇨🇳 散射 (sǎnshè)
🇸🇮 razpršitev
🇮🇸 dreifing
🇰🇿 шашырау
🇬🇪 გაფანტვა (gafantva)
🇦🇿 dağılma
🇲🇽 dispersión
Word origin
The word 'scattering' has its origins in Middle English, derived from the Old Norse word 'skattland', meaning 'land tax'. Over time, the term evolved to represent the act of dispersing or spreading things in different directions. In physics, the concept of scattering emerged in the study of light and particles, leading to significant advancements in various fields of science and technology.
See also: scatterbrained, scattered, scatterer.