`Dex' or `Order of Magnitude'?

Details `Dex' or `Order of Magnitude'? `Dex' or `Order of Magnitude'?

Sep 1960

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1960natur.187..879h&link_type=abstract

Nature, Volume 187, Issue 4740, pp. 879 (1960).

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

THE phrase `order of magnitude' is in constant use. It has at least two different meanings. In astronomy the magnitude of star A exceeds that of star B by unity if the amount of radiation (measured visually, photographically or bolometrically) reaching an observer or instrument on the Earth in a given time from A is 10-0.4 or 0.3981 times that from B. In other sciences A is said to exceed B by an order of magnitude if it is ten times as large. To take an example, Lowy1 wrote, ``Thus, in the tonic anterior byssus retractor of Mytilus, the decay of tension can be two orders of magnitude slower than that of the active state''. I take it that this means that the time needed for the tension to fall to a given fraction of its initial value after tonic contraction can be 100 times greater than the corresponding time after active contraction.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

`Dex' or `Order of Magnitude'? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with `Dex' or `Order of Magnitude'?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and `Dex' or `Order of Magnitude'? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1753023