W

Watt Density: The watts emanating from each square inch of heated surface area of a heater. Expressed in units of watts per square inch.

Wheatstone Bridge: A network of four resistances, an emf source, and a galvanometer connected such that when the four resistances are matched, the galvanometer will show a zero deflection or "null" reading.

Window: In computer graphics, a defined area in a system not bounded by any limits; unlimited "space" in graphics.

Word: Number of bits treated as a single unit by the CPU. In an 8-bit machine, the word length is 8 bits; in a sixteen bit machine, it is 16 bits.

Working Standard: A standard of unit measurement calibrated from either a primary or secondary standard which is used to calibrate other devices or make comparison measurements.

Write: To record data in a storage device or on a data medium.