18WuD2x

wall absorption • water adsorption 739
wall absorption Diminished radioactive emission
(especially of beta and gamma rays) because of
absorption by the radiating substance.
wall box A wall-mounted (usually metal) box enclosing
circuit breakers, fuses, switches, etc.
wall effect In an ionization chamber, the rise in
ionization because of electrons being released by
the walls of the chamber.
wall energy In a ferromagnetic substance, the energy
per unit area stored in a domain wall between
two regions of opposite magnetization.
Wallman amplifier A cascode amplifier (see CAS-
CODE).
wall mount A metal bracket for fastening an antenna
to a wall.
wall outlet A plug or socket, usually mounted in a
protective box or can and recessed in a wall that
can be accessed from the front. It is commonly
used for supplying alternating-current power to
appliances at 117 volts or 234 volts. It is also
used in telephone and cable-television systems.
wall plaque A loudspeaker so thin that, mounted
in a frame (sometimes behind grill cloth), it can
be hung on a wall.
wall plate A (usually rectangular) plate of metal or
plastic for holding a wall outlet or wall switch.
wall plug A male or female plug usually mounted
in a protective box or can and recessed in a wall.
Such a device can provide easy access to an antenna,
telephone line, or load; or it can deliver
alternating-current, direct-current, or radiofrequency
power.
walls The sides of the groove cut into a record disc.
wall socket A male or female socket usually
mounted in a protective box or can and recessed
in a wall. Such a device can provide easy access
to an antenna, telephone line, or load; or it can
deliver alternating-current, direct-current, or
radio-frequency power.
wall speaker See WALL PLAQUE.
wall switch A switch usually mounted in a protective
box or can and recessed in a wall.
wall telephone A wall-mounted telephone set. It
generally fits over the jack, so the only cord is between
the main unit and the receiver.
wall-through tube See LEAD-IN TUBE.
Walmsley antenna A phased array consisting of
several full-wavelength loops.
wamoscope A radar display tube that performs
several microwave-receiver functions (detection,
oscillation, amplification, etc.) as well as displaying
an image. The name is an acronym for wavemodulation
oscilloscope.
wander See SCINTILLATION, 1.
WAP Acronym for WIRELESS ACCESS PROTOCOL.
warble 1. A periodic rise and fall in the pitch of a
musical tone or combination of tones. 2. To rise
and fall in pitch with a definite period.
warble-tone generator An audio-frequency oscillator
whose frequency is varied at a subaudible
rate over a fixed frequency range.
warm junction The heated junction in a twojunction
thermocouple circuit. Also called HOT
JUNCTION. Compare COLD JUNCTION.
warmup The process of stabilizing an electronic
equipment by allowing its temperature to rise to
the optimum level.
warmup time The time required for an electronic
circuit to become fully operational, or to stabilize,
after the power has been switched on.
warning bell (buzzer) A bell (or buzzer) used as an
audible alarm in a WARNING DEVICE.
warning device A device, such as an electronic signaler,
for alerting a person to an emergency (intrusion
on premises, danger to life and safety,
etc.) or to the existence of an intrusion into a secured
area.
warning lamp See WARNING LIGHT.
warning light A lamp used as a visual alarm in a
warning device.
warpage Distortion of the normally straight sides
of a triangular wave.
warping In multimedia computer graphics, a
change in the shape of an object that occurs
smoothly over a period of time.
WAS Amateur radio abbreviation of Worked All
States, an award given to operators who have engaged
in verified two-way communication with
stations in all states of the United States.
washer capacitor A very thin donut capacitor.
washer resistor A resistor made in the general
shape of a washer or ring and having a center
hole for a mounting screw or stacking rod.
washer thermistor A thermistor made in the general
shape of a washer and having a center hole
for a mounting screw or stacking rod.
washer varistor A varistor made in the general
shape of a washer and having a center hole for a
mounting screw or stacking rod.
washout process A method of fabricating bipolar
transistors. The contact metal is deposited in the
diffusion hole.
waste instruction In a computer program, an instruction
not meant to be acted upon (e.g., one
used to take up space in the listing for some reason).
Also called null instruction and dummy instruction.
watch A work shift, as of electronic personnel (e.g.,
radio station operators).
watchcase receiver An earphone enclosed in a
small, round case with a screw-on cap. It is derived
from its resemblance to a large pocket watch.
water absorption For a solid material, such as a
dielectric, the ratio of the weight of water absorbed
by the material to the weight of the material.
water-activated battery A battery that contains
all the ingredients of its electrolyte, except water,
which must be added when the battery is put into
service.
water adsorption The formation of a thin layer of
water molecules on the surface of normally dry