angle of incidence
noun
Also called incidence. Optics, Physics. the angle that a straight line, ray of light, etc., meeting a surface, makes with a normal to the surface at the point of meeting.
(on an airplane) the angle, usually fixed, between a wing or tail root chord and the axis of the fuselage.
Chiefly British. angle of attack(def 1).
Nearby words
angle of deviation, angle of dip, angle of eccentricity, angle of elevation, angle of friction, angle of incidence, angle of iris, angle of jaw, angle of lag, angle of lead, angle of pitch
Origin of angle of incidence
First recorded in 1620–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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British Dictionary definitions for angle of incidence
angle of incidence
noun
the angle that a line or beam of radiation makes with the normal to the surface at the point of incidence
another name for angle of attack
Also called: rigging angle of incidence the angle between the chord line of an aircraft wing or tailplane and the aircraft's longitudinal axis
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Science definitions for angle of incidence
angle of incidence
The angle formed by a ray or wave, as of light or sound, striking a surface and a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of impact.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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