# Does anyone know what this symbol designates?

1. Mar 9, 2014

### shanepitts

2. Mar 9, 2014

Staff Emeritus
First thing a camper who brought too small a tent sees when he wakes up on the morning?

3. Mar 9, 2014

### bhillyard

I've seem it meaning "a lot less than".

4. Mar 9, 2014

### shanepitts

Not in this case, it is actually slightly different than the "much less than symbols". It was used in the formulation of an equation using the uncertainty principle, that explained why an electron "through the double slit experiment" changes it direction when measured.

5. Mar 9, 2014

### micromass

Staff Emeritus
Please provide more context. Like provide a paragraph of text where this symbol is used. And a reference.

6. Mar 9, 2014

7. Mar 9, 2014

### shanepitts

From Modern Physics 3rd edition (Serway)

8. Mar 9, 2014

Staff Emeritus
From the context, it looks like much less than. (Although the shape is rather odd for that)

9. Mar 9, 2014

### Staff: Mentor

I would assume the same. It's especially odd since the author uses the standard << elsewhere in the text.
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