EMP
2 synonyms for EMP, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Electromagnetic pulse: a short, intense burst of electromagnetic energy that can induce damaging surges of current in electronics and power lines, produced by a nuclear detonation, a specialised weapon or a severe solar storm.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
electromagnetic pulse
transient electromagnetic disturbance
How to use EMP
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
EMP attack
high-altitude EMP
EMP-hardened
EMP protection
Etymology
An initialism of 'electromagnetic pulse'.
Full origin of EMP →Frequently asked questions
Would an EMP destroy phones and cars?
It depends on the strength and distance. A powerful high-altitude nuclear EMP could damage unshielded electronics over a wide area and would be most destructive to long conductors like power lines and telephone cable; testing suggests many modern cars would stall but a fair proportion would restart. Small devices that are switched off and unconnected are less vulnerable.
Does a Faraday cage protect against an EMP?
Yes, in principle. A sealed conductive enclosure shields whatever is inside from the incoming field, which is why a metal bin with a tight lid and insulated contents is a common improvised solution. The protection fails if any cable runs through the wall of the enclosure.
What is the difference between an EMP and a solar flare?
A nuclear EMP delivers an extremely fast pulse that damages small electronics directly. A geomagnetic storm caused by solar activity builds much more slowly and mainly induces currents in very long conductors, threatening transformers and the power grid rather than your laptop.
