Dispersion

This definition page has been automatically generated. You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it.

This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag.

This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag.

Dispersion

</dt>
1. In rocketry (a) deviation from a prescribed flight path, (b) specifically, circular dispersion. </dd>
2. A measure of the scatter of data points around a mean value or around a regression curve. </dd>
Usually expressed as a standard-deviation estimate, or as a standard error of estimate. Note that the scatter is not centered around the true value unless systematic errors are zero. </dd>
3. The process in which radiation is separated into its component wavelengths. </dd>
Dispersion results when an optical process, such as diffraction, refraction, or scattering, varies according to wavelength. </dd>
4. In spectroscopy, a measure of the resolving power of a spectroscope or spectrograph, usually expressed in angstroms per millimeter. </dd>
5. As applied to materials, a scattering of very fine particles (e.g., ceramics) within the body of a metallic material usually resulting in overall strengthening of the composite material. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use