torsion angle
- noun
- /ˈtɔrʃən ˈeɪŋɡəl/
- Specialized
:
ángulo de torsión
- In chemistry, the torsion angle helps determine the three-dimensional shape of a molecule.
Examples
-
These MM methods, in general, express molecular energy as a sum of simple functions of bond distances, bond angles, and torsion angles.
Academic text (2001) -
The torsion angle between the two planes creates a unique geometric structure.
-
Understanding the torsion angle is crucial for predicting molecular interactions.
Synonyms
401
2.5
The space between two lines or surfaces that meet at a point
1
8.8
The angle between two flat surfaces that meet along a line
1
7.9
An angle between two planes that meet
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound directly combines 'torsion' (twisting) with 'angle' (a measure between lines/planes), so the overall meaning — an angle associated with twisting between planes — is readily inferable from the constituents. Although technical, the noun-noun composition follows normal English compounding and has clear parallels in other languages, so a learner who knows both words can understand the term.
Etymology
Torsion angle comes from a simple picture: imagine two flat surfaces connected and one is turned a little, making an angle between them. The word torsion means a 'twist' and angle is the size of that turn, so the term describes how parts of a molecule 'twist' and change its 'shape'.