"A"
"B"
"C",
"D",
"E",
"F",
"G",
"H",
"I",
"J",
"K",
"L",
"M",
"N",
"O",
"P",
"Q",
"R",
"S",
"T",
"U",
"V",
"W",
"X",
"Y",
"Z"
Previous set of "R" Terms and definitions
ROOT MEAN SQUARE (RMS). The equivalent heating value of an alternating current or voltage, as
compared to a direct current or voltage. It is 0.707 times the peak value of a sine wave.
ROTARY CAP.A spark gap, similar to a mechanically driven rotary switch, used to discharge a pulse forming
network.
ROTARY SWITCH. A multicontact switch with contacts arranged in a circular or semi-circular manner. [Rotary Switch Manufacturers]
ROTATING FIELD. The magnetic field in a multi-phase ac motor that is the result of field windings being
energized by out-of-phase currents. In effect, the magnetic field is made to rotate electrically rather than
mechanically.
ROTATING JOINT. A joint that permits one section of a transmission line or waveguide to rotate
continuously with respect to another while passing energy through the joint. Also called a rotary
coupler.
ROTOR. The revolving part of a rotating electrical machine. The rotor may be either the field or the
armature, depending on the design of the machine. The rotating member of a synchro that
consists of one or more coils of wire wound on a laminated core. Depending on the type of synchro, the
rotor functions similarly to the primary or secondary winding of a transformer.
ROUTER. In data communications, a functional unit used to interconnect two or more networks. Routers operate at the network layer (layer 3) of the ISO Open Systems Interconnection. A router reads the network layer
address of all packets transmitted by a network, and forwards only those addressed to another network.
RUBIDIUM CLOCK. A clock containing a quartz oscillator stabilized by a rubidium standard. [Rubidium Oscillator Manufacturers]
RUBIDIUM STANDARD. A frequency standard in which a specified hyper-fine transition of electrons in
rubidium-87 atoms is used to control the output frequency. A rubidium standard consists of a
gas cell, which has an inherent long-term instability. This instability relegates the rubidium standard to its
status as a secondary standard.
