Rydberg constant: 1.097 x 10^7 m^-1
My question - what does the "-1" after the m mean?
Does the "-1" after the m mean the equation is read:
1/1.097 x 10^7 m
My question - what does the "-1" after the m mean?
Does the "-1" after the m mean the equation is read:
1/1.097 x 10^7 m
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Oh, no, that's just the notation used to print out the constant on your computer screen. The "m^-1" means "inverse metres", but there's no other way to conveniently write that out. You might see that notation used with other measured numbers too - for example, in my chem textbook, frequencies of light waves are printed "789 s^-1" (which means the same thing as 789 per second or 789 hertz).
Update: Just saw your Additional Details after writing my answer, you're right, it means the second thing.
Update: Just saw your Additional Details after writing my answer, you're right, it means the second thing.