extinction angle
- noun
- Specialized
:
ángulo de extinción
- The extinction angle is crucial for identifying minerals under a polarizing microscope.
Examples
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Geologists measure the extinction angle to distinguish between mineral species.
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Certain crystals have a characteristic extinction angle when observed using polarized light.
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The extinction angle of the crystal was measured carefully.
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Can you explain the concept of extinction angles?
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Geologists use the extinction angle to help identify different minerals under polarized light.
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In polarized light microscopy, the extinction angle reveals important information about crystal structure.
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When studying crystals, scientists often refer to the extinction angle to determine how light interacts with them.
Synonyms
The angle you turn a crystal so it looks darkest under polarized light
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is a transparent composition of 'extinction' (loss or reduction of light) and 'angle' (a measure of rotation), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes the rotation angle at which light is extinguished. Although the usage is technical (crystallography/polarized light), the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows ordinary compositional logic.
Etymology
Extinction angle comes from watching a crystal under light with filters: when you slowly turn the crystal, it becomes very dark at one particular position. That position is the angle of extinction, so the name means the angle where the crystal 'extinguishes' or goes 'dark'.
