Related Words

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI): A high-frequency signal radiated by improperly shielded conductors. RFI can interfere with the operation of other electronic devices.

Radioactivity: Spontaneous emission of particles or high-energy electromagnetic radiation from the nuclei of unstable atoms. 'Radiation' refers to the emissions, and 'radioactive source' refers to the sour . . . View Full Definition

Radioactive Decay: The spontaneous decay of an atom to an atom of a different element by emission of a particle from its nucleus (alpha and beta decay) or by electron capture.

Radiocarbon Technique: The estimation of primary productivity by the measurement of radiocarbon uptake

Radiography: Technique of using x-rays, gamma rays and charged particles to form shadow images on photographic materials. Used in medical and industrial research because of its ability to penetrate opaqu . . . View Full Definition

Radiolarian: A group of one-celled marine animals with a siliceous skeleton that occupies shallow portions of the water column. Radiolarians have a range from Cambrian to present.

Radiolaria: Protistan phylum, whose members are planktonic and secrete an often elaborate siliceous test

Radioisotope: Term applied to a radioactive isotope, such as carbon-14 or uranium 238. Radioisotope nuclei are unstable and spontaneously breakdown and emit one of a number of types of radiation.

Radio-Frequency Fingerprinting: A process that identifies a cellular phone by the unique fingerprint that characterizes its signal transmission. RF fingerprinting is one process used to prevent cloning fraud, because a clo . . . View Full Definition

Radio Wave: Any electromagnetic wave at a frequency between approximately 10 kilohertz and 300,000 megahertz (a radio frequency range).