Product

Laboratory Instruments

Mass Spectrometry Glossary

Degree of freedom

Number of independent variables determining atomic positions in multiple atomic systems. In a system with N number of atoms the degree of freedom would be 3N. The freedom is divided into directional, rotational, and vibrational movement. The degree of vibrational freedom affects the internal energy contributing to fragmentation. With linear molecules the degree of vibrational freedom is 3N-5 and with nonlinear molecules the freedom is 3N-6.