dispersive power

American  

noun

Optics.

1. a measure of the ability of a substance to disperse light, equal to the quotient of the difference in refractive indices of the substance for two representative wavelengths divided by the difference of the refractive index for an intermediate wavelength and 1.

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Example Sentences

It did not spread out any more: a prism had no more dispersive power over it; it was deflected by the appropriate amount, but it was not analysed into constituents.

From Pioneers of Science by Lodge, Oliver, Sir

In consequence of its low refractive and dispersive power, colourless pellucid fluor-spar is valuable in the construction of apochromatic lenses, but this variety is rare.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

These effects are due to the difference in dispersive power of the powder and the liquid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

The dispersive power is not the same for all parts of a refraction spectrum; besides, the same colours do not occupy the same positions in spectra formed by prisms of different material.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 1: Deposition to Eberswalde by Various

Transparent media vary in their dispersive powers; for example, carbon disulphide has more than three times the dispersive power of crown glass.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 1: Deposition to Eberswalde by Various