atomic mass unit

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noun Physics.

Also called dalton . a unit of mass, equal to 1/12 (0.0833) the mass of the carbon-12 atom and used to express the mass of atomic and subatomic particles.

(formerly) a unit of mass, equal to 1/16 (0.0625) the mass of an oxygen atom having atomic mass 16. Abbreviations: amu, AMU

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of atomic mass unit

First recorded in 1950–55

Words nearby atomic mass unit

atomic force microscope, atomic heat, atomic hydrogen, atomicity, atomic mass, atomic mass unit, atomic number, atomic pile, atomic power, atomics, atomic spectrum

British Dictionary definitions for atomic mass unit

atomic mass unit

noun

a unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights that is equal to one twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12. It is equivalent to 1.66 × 10 –27 kgAbbreviation: amu Also called: unified atomic mass unit, dalton

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for atomic mass unit

atomic mass unit

A unit of mass equal to 112 the mass of an atom of the most common isotope of carbon (carbon 12), which is assigned a mass of 12 and has a value of 1.660 X 10-24 grams. A hydrogen atom has a mass of 1 atomic mass unit since its mass is 112 the mass of carbon 12. Also called dalton