What is the significance of inverse meters in astronomy calculations?

  • Thread starter Thread starter velvetymoogle
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Inverse Meter
AI Thread Summary
Inverse meters are crucial in astronomy calculations, particularly when using Rydberg's constant, which is expressed in this unit. It signifies a measurement per meter, specifically 1/109737361.6 m. When applying the equation 1/lambda = R (1/nf^2 - 1/ni^2), the constant R should be multiplied by the fraction derived from the energy levels. After this multiplication, the result should be reciprocated to find the wavelength. Understanding inverse meters is essential for accurate wavelength calculations in spectroscopy.
velvetymoogle
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
Hi,
I'm doing some astronomy work and one problem involves using Rydberg's constant. However, it is inverse meters and I'm confused. Does that mean that it is 1/109737361.6 m? Thanks.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Yes - it just means per metre.
 
Last edited:
mgb_phys said:
Yes - it just means per metre.

Okay so if I have the 1/lambda = R (1/nf^2 - 1/ni^2) equation, how would I go about plugging it in? Is it any different than plugging in any other numbers?
 
after you multiply R by the fraction,
you probably want to reciprocate the result (1/x)
to obtain the wavelength.
 

Thread 'How feasible is home radio astronomy?'

Is a homemade radio telescope realistic? There seems to be a confluence of multiple technologies that makes the situation better than when I was a wee lad: software-defined radio (SDR), the easy availability of satellite dishes, surveillance drives, and fast CPUs. Let's take a step back - it is trivial to see the sun in radio. An old analog TV, a set of "rabbit ears" antenna, and you're good to go. Point the antenna at the sun (i.e. the ears are perpendicular to it) and there is...
View full post »

Thread 'Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos'

This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Looking for a list of astronomy collaborations
Replies
2
Views
2K
Blackbody Radiation and the Inverse Square Law
Replies
14
Views
4K
I Observational Astronomy Project Ideas to Show Special Relativity
Replies
26
Views
4K
Stargazing Understanding the Formula for Sunrise and Sunset Calculation
Replies
11
Views
3K
Stargazing What can I see with 10x50 binoculars in Bortle class 4?
Replies
4
Views
2K
A Transition frequency -> Rydberg oxygen atoms
Replies
10
Views
3K
B Where Can I Find Accurate Planetary Event Data for an Astronomy Course?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Engineering How Much PSI Is Needed to Launch a Fishing Lure 38.5 Meters with an Air Cannon?
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Sound pressure and inverse distance law
Replies
5
Views
2K
Stargazing M - M as the distance modulus, and a question about the distance ladder
Replies
6
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top