NEPHELOMETER Meaning and
Definition
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A nephelometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the concentration or size distribution of suspended particulate matter in a gas or liquid. It is commonly employed in atmospheric science, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes.
The nephelometer operates on the principle of light scattering. It emits a beam of light onto the particles in the sample, and then measures the intensity of the scattered light at a specific angle relative to the incident beam. By analyzing the scattering pattern, the instrument can determine properties such as the number of particles, their size distribution, and their concentration.
Typically, nephelometers use a laser or a light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source, and detectors positioned at specific angles to capture the scattered light. These detectors are sensitive to light intensity and are capable of measuring small changes in scattered light caused by the presence of particles in the sample.
The data provided by nephelometers is crucial for understanding the quality of air or liquid samples. In atmospheric research, nephelometers help study the amount of particulate matter in the atmosphere, aiding in the assessment of air pollution levels. Additionally, in industrial applications, they are used to monitor air emissions, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and assessing the efficiency of pollution control equipment.
The nephelometer's accurate and precise measurements of scattered light make it an invaluable tool for scientific research, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes.
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An instrument for estimating the number of bacteria in a suspension, used as a vaccine in opsonic therapy, by comparing its opacity with that of one of a series of standardizing tubes containing precipitates of barium sulphate of varying density.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NEPHELOMETER
- bephelometer
- mephelometer
- jephelometer
- hephelometer
- nwphelometer
- nsphelometer
- ndphelometer
- nrphelometer
- n4phelometer
- n3phelometer
- neohelometer
- nelhelometer
- ne-helometer
- ne0helometer
- nepgelometer
- nepbelometer
- nepnelometer
- nepjelometer
- nepuelometer
- nepyelometer
Etymology of NEPHELOMETER
The word "nephelometer" is derived from two Greek words: "nephelē" meaning "cloud" and "metron" meaning "measure". Combined, "nephelometer" literally translates to "cloud measure" or "cloud meter". The term was first used in the 19th century to describe a scientific instrument used for measuring the concentration of suspended particles or aerosols in the air, typically by analyzing their effect on the scattering of light.
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