perturbation Definition
- 1anxiety; mental uneasiness.
- 2a deviation of a system, moving object, or process from its regular or normal state or path caused by an outside influence.
- 3a small change in the position, momentum, or other physical quantity of a particle or system of particles that is due to a collision, gravitational interaction, or other influence.
Using perturbation: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "perturbation" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The news caused great perturbation among the staff.
Example
The perturbation of the spacecraft's orbit was caused by the gravitational pull of the planet.
Example
The perturbation of the electron's trajectory was caused by the magnetic field.
perturbation Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for perturbation
Phrases with perturbation
a disturbance in temperature that causes a change in the physical properties of a material
Example
The thermal perturbation caused the metal to expand and contract.
a change in the orbit of a celestial body caused by the gravitational pull of another celestial body
Example
The gravitational perturbation of Jupiter caused the asteroid's orbit to change.
a small change in the position, momentum, or other physical quantity of a particle or system of particles that is due to a collision, gravitational interaction, or other influence
Example
The quantum perturbation of the electron's trajectory was caused by the interaction with the photon.
Origins of perturbation
from Latin 'perturbatio', from 'perturbare' meaning 'to confuse'
Summary: perturbation in Brief
The term 'perturbation' [ˌpəːtəːˈbeɪʃ(ə)n] refers to anxiety or uneasiness, as well as a deviation from a regular or normal state or path caused by an outside influence. It can also refer to a small change in the physical properties of a material or the position of a particle or system of particles. Examples include 'The news caused great perturbation among the staff.' and 'The perturbation of the spacecraft's orbit was caused by the gravitational pull of the planet.'
