magnification

magnification
/mag'neuh fi kay"sheuhn/, n.
1. the act of magnifying or the state of being magnified.
2. the power to magnify. Cf. power (def. 20a).
3. a magnified image, drawing, copy, etc.
[1615-25; < LL magnification- (s. of magnificatio). See MAGNIFY, -FICATION]

* * *

optics
      in optics, the size of an image relative to the size of the object creating it. Linear (sometimes called lateral or transverse) magnification refers to the ratio of image length to object length measured in planes that are perpendicular to the optical axis. A negative value of linear magnification denotes an inverted image. Longitudinal magnification denotes the factor by which an image increases in size, as measured along the optical axis. Angular magnification is equal to the ratio of the tangents of the angles subtended by an object and its image when measured from a given point in the instrument, as with magnifiers and binoculars.

      There is no theoretical limit to the amount of magnification possible in an optical system, but practical magnification is limited by the system's resolving power—i.e., its ability to form distinguishable images of objects separated by small angular distances. A unit of magnification commonly used in microscopes and telescopes is the diameter, the magnification in diameters being equal to the number of times the linear dimensions of the object are increased.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Magnification — Studioalbum von Yes Veröffentlichung 2001 Label Eagle Records (U.K.) Beyond Music ( …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Magnification — Album par Yes Sortie 11 septembre 2001 (Royaume Uni) 4 décembre 2001 (États Unis) Durée 1:00:32 Genre Rock progressif rock symphonique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Magnification — Mag ni*fi*ca tion, n. The act of magnifying; enlargement; exaggeration. [R.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • magnification — index aggravation (exacerbation), augmentation, bombast, boom (increase), distortion, exaggeration …   Law dictionary

  • magnification — (n.) early 15c., from L.L. magnificationem (nom. magnificatio), noun of action from pp. stem of magnificare (see MAGNIFY (Cf. magnify)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • magnification — [mag΄nə fi kā′shən] n. [LL magnificatio] 1. a magnifying or being magnified 2. the power of magnifying 3. a magnified image, model, or representation …   English World dictionary

  • Magnification — For Magnification in the sense of exaggeration, see Exaggeration. For the 2001 album of progressive rock band Yes, see Magnification (album). The stamp appears larger with the use of a magnifying glass Magnification is the process of enlarging… …   Wikipedia

  • magnification — mag|ni|fi|ca|tion [ˌmægnıfıˈkeıʃən] n 1.) [U] the process of making something look bigger than it is at high/low etc magnification ▪ When viewed at high magnification it is clear that the crystals are quite different. ▪ greater levels of… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • magnification — [[t]mæ̱gnɪfɪke͟ɪʃ(ə)n[/t]] magnifications 1) N UNCOUNT Magnification is the act or process of magnifying something. The man was tall, his figure shortened by the magnification of Lenny s binoculars... I find England strange and unique and… …   English dictionary

  • magnification —    The term magnification is indebted to the Latin adjective magnus, which means large. It is used to denote the process by which visually perceived objects or stimuli appear to increase in size. Magnification can occur in individuals wearing… …   Dictionary of Hallucinations

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”