Converting cm to cm-1: How to Calculate 1/37

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter agentas
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conversion of units from centimeters (cm) to inverse centimeters (cm-1), particularly focusing on the calculation involving the value 1/37. Participants also explore related concepts in the context of atomic spectra.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims that converting an interval of 37 cm to cm-1 involves calculating 1/37, resulting in 0.027 cm-1.
  • Another participant agrees with the initial calculation but questions the intent behind converting the interval to cm-1.
  • A participant references a specific value from a Lithium atomic spectrum (0.162 Å) and states it corresponds to 0.36 cm-1, expressing difficulty in achieving this result through reciprocal calculations.
  • Another participant challenges the accuracy of the conversion, suggesting that 0.162 Å is not close to 1/3 of a centimeter and indicates a significant error in magnitude.
  • One participant prompts clarification on the quantities involved, questioning whether the given value in Ångströms is a wavelength and what the desired calculation is (inverse wavelength or wave vector magnitude).

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the correct approach to the conversion, as participants express differing views on the calculations and the quantities involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential misunderstandings regarding unit conversions and the nature of the quantities being discussed, which may affect the calculations presented.

agentas
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If i got my interval is 37 cm .And if i want to get in cm-1 I have to do this 1/37=0,027cm-1 right?
 
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Yes, that's fine.
 
agentas said:
If i got my interval is 37 cm .And if i want to get in cm-1 I have to do this 1/37=0,027cm-1 right?

You want to get WHAT in cm-1? Not the same interval, I hope.
 
from some Lithium atomic spectrum which is equal 0.162A.This corresponds to 0.36cm-1
I still struggling to get this answer ,because if i take reciprocal of of it i can not get 0,36cm-1
 
0.162A is not even close to 1/3rd of cm. You are off by many orders of magnitude.
 
It would be a good start to figure out what are the quantities you are dealing with.
What quantity is given in A? Is it a wavelength?
And then what quantity do you want to calculate? Is it inverse wavelength or maybe the magnitude of the wave vector?
 

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