vite (noun)

English translation: (permittivity of) free space

08:26 Feb 9, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Science - Physics
French term or phrase: vite (noun)
patent relating to electro-wetting and nucleation of bubbles. I'm confused by this word "vite" in the following:

"Le mouillage d’un liquide varie selon une loi décrite par l’équation de Lippman-Young’s :

[equation:] cos θ = cos θy + ( εε0 / 2γd ) V2

dans laquelle θ est l’angle de contact au potentiel V, θY l’angle de contact au potentiel 0 V, Y l’énergie de surface du liquide, ε0 la permittivité du vite, ε la constante diélectrique de la couche isolante et d l’épaisseur de cette couche isolante"

I've tried looking up the "Lippman-Young" (or "Young-Lippman") equation... but I still can't work out whether "vite" is a typo. There is no reference before or after in the text to "vite" or to permittivity. Nor does the context throw any light on the matter.
Mpoma
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:51
English translation:(permittivity of) free space
Explanation:
While there is nothing wrong with "permittivity of a vacuum" the expression usually used is "free space". Multiplication by the (dimensionless) relative permittivity (incorrectly known as dielectric constant) gives the overall permittivity of the material.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-02-09 11:08:09 GMT)
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Many hits for "permittivity of free space". See e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permittivity, amongst others
Selected response from:

chris collister
France
Local time: 18:51
Grading comment
thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4vacuum
Ronald van Riet
5 +1(permittivity of) free space
chris collister
4 +1VIDE (typo)
polyglot45


  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
VIDE (typo)


Explanation:
Permittivité du vide - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permittivité_du_videEn cache - Pages similaires
+1 publié par vous pour ce contenu Annuler
La permittivité du vide, permittivité diélectrique du vide ou encore constante électrique est une constante physique. Elle est notée ε0

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
Notes to answerer
Asker: thanks... of course! (not that I had ever heard of permittivity of free space or whatever)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  kashew
46 mins
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
vacuum


Explanation:
must be a typo for "vide", see URL below


    Reference: http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/34/1/107/pdf/jpconf6_34_...
Ronald van Riet
Local time: 18:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Zareh Darakjian Ph.D.
13 mins

agree  kashew
44 mins

agree  Alistair Ian Spearing Ortiz
1 hr

agree  M.A.B.: vacuum permittivity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_permittivity
10 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(permittivity of) free space


Explanation:
While there is nothing wrong with "permittivity of a vacuum" the expression usually used is "free space". Multiplication by the (dimensionless) relative permittivity (incorrectly known as dielectric constant) gives the overall permittivity of the material.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2012-02-09 11:08:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Many hits for "permittivity of free space". See e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permittivity, amongst others

chris collister
France
Local time: 18:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
thanks
Notes to answerer
Asker: thanks... "permittivity of free space" (entre guillemets) gets many more hits than "permittivity of vacuum"


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  M.A.B.: vacuum permittivity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_permittivity | Sure! I guess these various terms are more or less equivalent. Anyway, we're talking about epsilon_0.
8 hrs
  -> Thank you. This is one of those rare occasions when I do know what I'm talking about, having worked in the field for decades.
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