Definition

A small unit of sound or vibrational energy that behaves like a particle, often used in physics to study the properties of materials.

Example

In solid-state physics, phonons play a crucial role in understanding heat conduction.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a phonon?

Yeah, isn't it related to sound waves or something?

Exactly! It's actually a quantum of vibrational energy in solids.

That's pretty cool; I love learning about how things work on a tiny scale!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phonon → It is formed from "phon-" (from Greek "phōnē", meaning sound) and "-on" (a suffix used in physics to denote particles). The word "phonon" refers to a quantized mode of vibration that is associated with sound in a material.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sound' ('phon-') being represented as a 'particle' ('-on') — that's why a phonon is a particle of sound.

Visually Confused Words