radius of curvature

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. the absolute value of the reciprocal of the curvature at a point on a curve.

---

radius of curvature British  

noun

1. the absolute value of the reciprocal of the curvature of a curve at a given point; the radius of a circle the curvature of which is equal to that of the given curve at that point See also centre of curvature

---

Etymology

Origin of radius of curvature

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

radius of curvature

Both wedging and interleaving can be quantified in units of radius of curvature, so are ideal for characterizing curved epithelia.

From Nature ● Sep. 9, 2018

If we wish to place the fluid-carrying pipe 40.0 cm from the concave mirror at the mirror’s focal point, what will be the radius of curvature of the mirror?

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

The radius of curvature of each side of the lens.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

The smaller the radius of curvature, the smaller the focal length and, thus, the more powerful the mirror.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Mr. Kneass, the chief engineer, submitted "a grade table and a table exhibiting the length of straight line, length of curve and radius of curvature" to the Directors on October 14th, 1831.

From A Pioneer Railway of the West by Maude Ward Lafferty