helicity
/ (hɪˈlɪsɪtɪ) /
noun plural -ties
physics the projection of the spin of an elementary particle on the direction of propagation
QUIZZES
BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!
We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! See how many words from the week of Oct 12–18, 2020 you get right!
Question 1 of 7
What does “Indigenous” mean?
Word Origin for helicity
C20: from helix + -ity
Words nearby helicity
heliced, helices, helichrysum, helicine, helicine artery, helicity, helicline, helico-, helicograph, helicoid, helicoid cyme
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for helicity
helicity
[ hə-lĭs′ĭ-tē, hē′ ]
The projection of a particle's spin vector in the direction of its momentum vector, being positive if it points in the same direction, and negative if it points in the opposite direction. Helicity is in effect the handedness, or chirality, of the spin of a particle.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.