planimeter

American  

[pluh-nim-i-ter] / pləˈnɪm ɪ tər /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring mechanically the area of plane figures.

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planimeter British  

/ plæˈnɪmɪtə /

noun

1. a mechanical integrating instrument for measuring the area of an irregular plane figure, such as the area under a curve, by moving a point attached to an arm around the perimeter of the figure

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Etymology

Origin of planimeter

First recorded in 1855–60; plani- + -meter

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

planimeter

Instead of trying to measure the area of the region directly, we can use a device called a rolling planimeter to calculate the area of the region exactly, simply by measuring its boundary.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

The planimeter measures the number of turns through which the wheel rotates as we trace the boundary; the area of the shape is proportional to this number of wheel turns.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

As the planimeter traces C, the pivot moves along the y-axis while the tracer arm rotates on the pivot.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

In this project you investigate how a planimeter works, and you use Green’s theorem to show the device calculates area correctly.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

Amsler's planimeter was taken as the standard, the area measured by it being independently checked by an assistant.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 1082, September 26, 1896 by Various