Geiger-Nuttall law

noun

Geiger-Nut·​tall law
variants or less commonly Geiger-Nuttall relation
¦⸗⸗¦nətˌȯl-
: a statement in nuclear physics: for an alpha-emitting radioactive substance the logarithm of the decay constant and the logarithm of the range in air of the emitted alpha rays are in linear relation to each other

Word History

Etymology

after H. Geiger and John M. Nuttall †1958 British physicist

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near Geiger-Nuttall law

Cite this Entry

“Geiger-Nuttall law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Geiger-Nuttall%20law. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!