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Glite Dictionary
astatic coils

astatic coils

9.9
A set of loops of wire that cancels outside magnetic fields in sensitive instruments
  • noun
  • Specialized
: bobinas aestáticas
  • By using astatic coils, the instrument became less affected by surrounding magnetic fields.

Examples

  • The engineer adjusted the astatic coils to improve the sensitivity of the galvanometer.

  • A precise measurement required the installation of new astatic coils in the device.

  • The engineer designed astatic coils for the new measuring device.

  • Can you explain how astatic coils work?

  • The engineer adjusted the astatic coils to improve the sensitivity of the galvanometer.

  • By using astatic coils, the instrument became less affected by surrounding magnetic fields.

  • A precise measurement required the installation of new astatic coils in the device.

Surface Forms

astatic coils singular
astatic coils plural

Morphology

astatic + coil

The adjective 'astatic' is a rare, technical term (not in the provided dictionary) and does not transparently convey the idea of cancelling external magnetic fields to an average B1 learner. Knowing 'coil' alone does not allow a learner to infer the specific engineering function (an arrangement producing near-zero external field), so the overall meaning is specialized and not compositionally predictable.

Etymology

Astatic coils comes from the small part a-, meaning 'without', and static, meaning 'fixed'. In practice, two or more coils are set so their magnetic fields cancel each other and create almost 'no' outside magnetic field, which is why the name refers to coils used to reduce outside magnetic interference in sensitive instruments.