
Health Dictionary
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Gamma
Introduction
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Gamma (uppercase Γ, lowercase γ; Template:Lang-el) is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Gimel Gimel. Letters that arose from Gamma include the Roman C and G and the Cyrillic letters Ge Г and Ghe Ґ.
In Modern Greek, it represents either a voiced velar fricative Template:IPA or a voiced palatal fricative Template:IPA. In Ancient Greek, it represented a voiced velar stop Template:IPA. Before velars, it represents a velar nasal Template:IPA in Modern as well as Ancient Greek, and a double gamma represents a prenasalized voiced velar stop (Template:IPA).
Gamma combinations
Gamma combinations
The gamma can be combined with other letters or itself.
- A double gamma (γγ) is pronounced like the ng in “jumping“
- A gamma with xi (γξ) is pronounced roughly like the nx in “Sphinx“
- A gamma with chi (γχ) is pronounced like the nkh in “ankh“
- A gamma combined with kappa (γκ) is pronounced like the nk in “banker”
Use as a symbol or a term
Use as a symbol or a term
Gamma is often used to denote a variable in mathematics and physics. In certain areas it has a specific meaning, such as representing gamma radiation in nuclear physics and the Lorentz factor in theory of relativity. In mathematics, there is a gamma function (usually written as Γ-function.)
als:Γ ar:غاما (حرف إغريقي) arc:Γ ast:Gamma br:Gamma (lizherenn) bg:Гама (буква) ca:Gamma cy:Gamma da:Gamma (bogstav) de:Gamma el:Γάμμα eo:Gamo (litero) eu:Gamma (greko) ga:Gáma gd:Gamma gl:Gamma ko:Γ hr:Gama id:Gamma (huruf Yunani) is:Gamma it:Gamma (lettera) he:גמא (אות) ka:გამა (ასო) sw:Gamma ht:Γ ku:Gamma la:Gamma lt:Gama (raidė) hu:Gamma ms:Gama nah:Γ nl:Gamma (letter) no:Gamma nn:Gamma nds:Gamma simple:Gamma sk:Gama (grécke písmeno) sl:Gama sr:Гама sh:Gama fi:Gamma sv:Gamma th:แกมมา uk:Гамма (літера)
