Define optical density.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the definition of 'optical density', which relates to how much light is absorbed by a medium. It is a measure of how much a substance prevents light from transmitting through it.
Answer
Optical density is a measure of a material's ability to absorb light.
Optical density (OD) is a measure of how much a material can absorb light. It quantifies the attenuation of light as it passes through a substance.
Answer for screen readers
Optical density (OD) is a measure of how much a material can absorb light. It quantifies the attenuation of light as it passes through a substance.
More Information
Optical density is often used in fields like microbiology to measure the growth of bacteria in culture by assessing how much light a sample absorbs. Higher optical density means higher concentration of the substance in the sample.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing optical density with optical clarity or turbidity. Optical density specifically measures absorption, not the clarity or scattering of light.
Sources
- Optical Density - ScienceDirect - sciencedirect.com
- Optical Density Definition - ThoughtCo - thoughtco.com
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