Wavenumber: meaning, definitions and examples
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wavenumber
[ ˈweɪvˌnʌmbər ]
spectroscopy
A unit of frequency in spectroscopy, equal to the number of complete cycles of a periodic wave that pass a given point in a unit of time.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The wavenumber of a spectral line is directly proportional to its frequency.
- Infrared spectroscopy often uses wavenumbers as a unit of measurement.
physics
The reciprocal of the wavelength of a wave, often used in the study of crystal structures and vibrational modes.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The wavenumber can be calculated by dividing the speed of light by the wavelength of the wave.
- Wavenumber is an important parameter in X-ray crystallography.
Translations
Translations of the word "wavenumber" in other languages:
🇵🇹 número de onda
🇮🇳 तरंग संख्या
🇩🇪 Wellenzahl
🇮🇩 angka gelombang
🇺🇦 хвильове число
🇵🇱 liczba falowa
🇯🇵 波数 (はすう)
🇫🇷 nombre d'onde
🇪🇸 número de onda
🇹🇷 dalga sayısı
🇰🇷 파수 (波數)
🇸🇦 عدد الموجة
🇨🇿 vlnové číslo
🇸🇰 vlnočet
🇨🇳 波数 (bō shù)
🇸🇮 valovno število
🇮🇸 bylgjutala
🇰🇿 толқын саны
🇬🇪 ტალღის რიცხვი
🇦🇿 dalğa sayı
🇲🇽 número de onda
Word origin
The term 'wavenumber' originated in the field of spectroscopy in the early 20th century to describe the frequency of a wave in terms of the number of complete cycles per unit distance. It has since been adopted in various branches of physics and engineering for its utility in analyzing wave phenomena. The concept of wavenumber plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of waves in different mediums and has become an indispensable tool in scientific research and experimentation.
See also: airwaves, wave, wavelength, wavelet, wavelike, waver, wavering, wavy.