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

The spectrum will have a certain length, depending on the dispersive power of the glass.

From Half-hours with the Telescope Being a Popular Guide to the Use of the Telescope as a Means of Amusement and Instruction. by Proctor, Richard A. (Richard Anthony)

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

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

Other materials than diamond behave similarly, but usually to a much smaller extent, for few gem materials have so high a refractive power or so great a dispersive power as diamond.

From A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public by Wade, Frank Bertram

Upon applying a greater dispersive power he noticed that the line "D" was a double one; but so also was the sodium line under these conditions.

From New and Original Theories of the Great Physical Forces by Rogers, Henry Raymond