angle of incidence

3 definitions found

angle of incidence - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Incidence \In"ci*dence\, n. [Cf. F. incidence.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A falling on or upon; an incident; an event; an
        occurrence. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Physics) The direction in which a body, or a ray of light
        or heat, falls on any surface.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In equal incidences there is a considerable
              inequality of refractions.            --Sir I.
                                                    Newton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The rate or ratio at which something occurs; as, the
        incidence of murder in Los Angeles; the incidence of
        cancer in men over 50.
        [PJC]
  
     Angle of incidence, the angle which a ray of light, or the
        line of incidence of a body, falling on any surface, makes
        with a perpendicular to that surface; also formerly, the
        complement of this angle.
  
     Line of incidence, the line in the direction of which a
        surface is struck by a body, ray of light, and the like.
        [1913 Webster]

  Angle of incidence \Angle of incidence\ (A["e]ronautics)
     The angle between the chord of an a["e]rocurve and the
     relative direction of the undisturbed air current.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

angle of incidence - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  angle of incidence
      n 1: the angle that a line makes with a line perpendicular to
           the surface at the point of incidence [syn: angle of incidence
           , incidence angle]