observable
American-
A measurable property of a physical system, such as mass or momentum. In quantum mechanics, observables correspond to mathematical operators used in the calculation of measurable quantities. Operators that do not commute, having a nonzero commutator, correspond to observables that cannot be precisely measured at the same time, such as momentum and position.
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See also uncertainty principle
Other Word Forms
- nonobservable adjective
- nonobservably adverb
- observability noun
- observableness noun
- observably adverb
- unobservable adjective
Etymology
Origin of observable
1600–10; < Latin observābilis remarkable, equivalent to observā ( re ) to observe + -bilis -ble
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their long-term goal is to build a stronger link between quantum gravity and observable cosmology.
From Science Daily
The JPMorgan analysts said overall 98 percent of the observable oil traffic through the strait was Iranian, averaging 1.3 million barrels a day "in early March".
From Barron's
One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible.
From Literature
First, it identifies the first known example of a "chirp" in a supernova, revealing a new type of observable behavior in stellar explosions.
From Science Daily
What researchers have lacked so far is a clear observable effect that experiments could measure to determine which theory best reflects how nature actually works.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
