bragg's law: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare (C2)Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “bragg's law” mean?
A fundamental law of physics stating the condition for constructive interference of X-rays (or other electromagnetic waves) scattered from a crystal lattice, leading to diffraction peaks.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fundamental law of physics stating the condition for constructive interference of X-rays (or other electromagnetic waves) scattered from a crystal lattice, leading to diffraction peaks.
A principle used to determine the angles at which X-rays are diffracted by the atomic planes within a crystal, thereby revealing the crystal's structure, interplanar spacing, and atomic arrangement. It is foundational to X-ray crystallography.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant linguistic differences in usage; the term is identical in spelling and reference in both scientific communities.
Connotations
None beyond its precise scientific meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare and confined to identical technical contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bragg's law” in a Sentence
The diffraction pattern [VERB] obeys Bragg's law.Bragg's law [VERB] that nλ = 2d sinθ.One can [VERB] the lattice spacing from Bragg's law.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bragg's law” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The data were analysed to see if they Bragg-diffracted according to the predicted angles.
American English
- The peaks in the pattern Bragg-diffract precisely where the law predicts.
adverb
British English
- The X-rays scattered Bragg-diffractively from the crystal planes.
American English
- The beam was directed Bragg-perpendicularly to the atomic layers.
adjective
British English
- The Bragg-angle measurement is critical for determining lattice parameters.
American English
- We observed a strong Bragg peak at 38.5 degrees.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively used in advanced physics, chemistry, materials science, and geology lectures, papers, and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Essential for describing X-ray diffraction experiments, crystal structure analysis, and related instrumentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bragg's law”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bragg's law”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bragg's law”
- Misspelling as 'Brag's law' (dropping a 'g').
- Incorrectly stating the formula (e.g., forgetting the factor of 2 or the integer n).
- Using it as a general term for any diffraction, rather than specifically for crystal lattice diffraction.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was derived by Sir William Henry Bragg and his son Sir William Lawrence Bragg in 1913, for which they won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915.
The 'n' represents the order of the diffraction, an integer (1, 2, 3...) indicating the number of wavelengths in the path difference.
While formulated for X-rays, it applies to the diffraction of any wave (e.g., neutrons, electrons) with a wavelength comparable to the atomic spacing in a crystalline material.
Its main application is in X-ray crystallography, a technique used to determine the atomic and molecular structure of crystals, which is fundamental in chemistry, biology (e.g., DNA structure), materials science, and mineralogy.
A fundamental law of physics stating the condition for constructive interference of X-rays (or other electromagnetic waves) scattered from a crystal lattice, leading to diffraction peaks.
Bragg's law is usually technical/scientific in register.
Bragg's law: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbræɡz ˌlɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbræɡz ˌlɔ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Bragg's law BRAGS about angles: Big Reflections Are Generated when Spacing * sin(θ) equals n * λ.
Conceptual Metaphor
The crystal acts like a mirror for X-rays, but only at very specific angles, like a security door that only opens when you approach from precise directions.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary variable that Bragg's law relates to determine crystal structure?