magnitude

magnitude

Nombre qui indique la quantité d’énergie libérée par un séisme.

En anglais simple : A number showing how much energy an earthquake releases.

• The earthquake had a magnitude of five.
• Scientists recorded several quakes of similar magnitude.
• A magnitude seven earthquake struck the coast.

Expressions courantes : earthquake magnitude, magnitude six, magnitude of something

ampleur, importance

Degré de taille, de gravité ou d’importance de quelque chose.

En anglais simple : How large, serious, or important something is.

• I understood the magnitude of the task.
• Nobody expected a disaster of this magnitude.
• The changes differed greatly in magnitude.

Comment l'utiliser : the magnitude of something (We underestimated the magnitude of the problem.)

Synonymes : size, scale, extent, importance

Expressions courantes : magnitude of something, enormous magnitude, order of magnitude

grandeur, module

Nombre qui exprime la taille d’une quantité ou d’une valeur mesurée.

En anglais simple : A number that expresses how large an amount or a measured value is.

• The two values have equal magnitude.
• This number represents the magnitude of the force.
• A vector has both magnitude and direction.

Comment l'utiliser : the magnitude of something (Calculate the magnitude of the force.)

Synonymes : size, absolute value

Expressions courantes : vector magnitude, magnitude of something, calculate the magnitude

magnitude apparente

Nombre indiquant l’éclat apparent d’une étoile ; plus il est petit, plus l’étoile paraît brillante.

En anglais simple : A number showing how bright a star looks; lower numbers mean brighter stars.

• The star has an apparent magnitude of six.
• Astronomers measured the magnitude of the newly discovered star.
• Stars of this magnitude are difficult to see without a telescope.

Synonymes : apparent magnitude

Expressions courantes : apparent magnitude, stellar magnitude, fifth magnitude