Cubic System Calculator
Calculate unit cell volume for cubic crystal systems (a = b = c, α = β = γ = 90°)
Volume: - ų
Understanding Unit Cell Volume
What is a Unit Cell?
A unit cell is the smallest repeating unit in a crystal structure that shows the full symmetry of the crystal pattern. It is characterized by:
- Three lattice parameters (a, b, c)
- Three angles (α, β, γ)
- A specific arrangement of atoms
Crystal Systems
There are seven crystal systems:
- Cubic: a = b = c, α = β = γ = 90°
- Tetragonal: a = b ≠ c, α = β = γ = 90°
- Orthorhombic: a ≠ b ≠ c, α = β = γ = 90°
- Hexagonal: a = b ≠ c, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°
- Trigonal: a = b = c, α = β = γ ≠ 90°
- Monoclinic: a ≠ b ≠ c, α = γ = 90° ≠ β
- Triclinic: a ≠ b ≠ c, α ≠ β ≠ γ
Volume Calculations
The volume of a unit cell depends on its crystal system:
- Cubic: V = a³
- Tetragonal: V = a²c
- Orthorhombic: V = abc
- More complex systems involve trigonometric functions of the angles