Bragg’s law is a fundamental concept in the field of crystallography. It is a mathematical formula that describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and reflection of X-rays or other types of electromagnetic radiation by a crystal lattice. This law plays a crucial role in the determination of crystal structures and has numerous applications in various fields of science and engineering.
Definitions
Bragg’s law can be defined as a relationship between the wavelength of X-rays, the distance between the atoms in a crystal lattice, and the angle at which the X-rays are diffracted. The law states that when X-rays are diffracted by a crystal lattice, the path difference between the waves reflected from adjacent planes of atoms is equal to an integer multiple of the wavelength of the X-rays.
Origin
Bragg’s law was discovered by father and son duo, William Henry Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg in 1913. They were studying the diffraction of X-rays by crystals and found that the diffraction pattern could be explained by a simple mathematical formula. This formula was later named after them and is now known as Bragg’s law.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Bragg’s law is defined as “a law stating that the diffraction of X-rays by a crystal lattice is determined by the spacing of the atoms in the lattice and the angle of incidence of the X-rays.”
Merriam-Webster defines Bragg’s law as “a statement in physics: the angle of incidence of X-rays on a crystal surface is equal to the angle between the diffracted X-rays and the surface, the sine of which is proportional to the wavelength of the X-rays and the distance between the atoms in the crystal.”
Associations
Bragg’s law is closely associated with the field of crystallography, which is the study of the arrangement of atoms in crystals. It is also used in the determination of crystal structures, which is important in the fields of materials science, chemistry, and biology.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of Bragg’s law include Bragg equation, Bragg reflection, and Bragg diffraction.
Antonyms
There are no antonyms of Bragg’s law, as it is a fundamental concept that describes a physical phenomenon.
The same root words
The root words of Bragg’s law are “Bragg” and “law”. Bragg is the surname of the father and son duo who discovered the law, while law refers to the mathematical formula that describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and reflection of X-rays by a crystal lattice.
Example Sentences
- The determination of crystal structures is based on Bragg’s law.
- The diffraction pattern of X-rays by a crystal lattice can be explained by Bragg’s law.
- The spacing of the atoms in a crystal lattice can be determined using Bragg’s law.
- Bragg’s law has numerous applications in materials science, chemistry, and biology.