| mass stopping power | <physics> The mass stopping power (S/r) of a material for charged particles is the quotient dEs by the product of dl and r, where dEs is the average energy lost by a charged particle of specified energy in traversing a path length dl and r is the density of the medium. (16 Dec 1997) |
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| resolving power | 1. <optics> The resolution of an optical system defines the closest proximity of two objects that can be seen as two distinct regions of the image. This limit depends upon the Numerical Aperture of the optical system, the contrast step between objects and background and the shape of the objects. The often quoted Airy limit applies only to self luminous discs. 2. <genetics> The smallest map distance measurable by an experiment involving a certain number of classified recombinant progency. (10 Mar 1998) |
| combined-cycle power plant | The combination of a gas turbine and a steam turbine in an electric generation plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine provides the heat energy for the steam turbine. (05 Dec 1998) |
| combined heat and power | An older term for what is now generally called cogeneration. The term is currently used in Europe and other foreign countries. (05 Dec 1998) |
| condensing power | Power generated through a final steam turbine stage where the steam is exhausted into a condenser and cooled to a liquid to be recycled back into a boiler. (05 Dec 1998) |
| polarizing power | <chemistry> Means that a charged species such as a proton can attract negatively charged electrons which causes a shift in the orbital. The higher the positive charge and the smaller the smaller the size, the greater the polarizing power of the species. (09 Jan 1998) |
| power | 1. Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm. The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity. 2. <psychology> The exertion of a strong influence or control over others in a variety of settings; administrative, social, academic, etc. Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc. 3. <mechanics> The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power. Applied force; force producing motion or pressure; as, the power applied at one and of a lever to lift a weight at the other end. 4. <unit> The English unit of power used most commonly is the horse power. See Horse power. 5. <mathematics> The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number. 6. <optics> The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface. 7. Power may be predicated of inanimate agents, like the winds and waves, electricity and magnetism, gravitation, etc, or of animal and intelligent beings; and when predicated of these beings, it may indicate physical, mental, or moral ability or capacity. 8. <geometry> Power of a point (relative to a given curve), the result of substituting the coordinates of any point in that expression which being put equal to zero forms the equation of the curve; as, x^2 + y^2 - 100 is the power of the point x, y, relative to the circle x^2 + y^2 - 100 = 0. Origin: OE. Pouer, poer, OF. Poeir, pooir, F. Pouvoir, n. & v, fr. LL. Potere, for L. Posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus. Source: Websters Dictionary (04 Jul 1999) |
| power failure | Synonym: pump failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| power injector | An injector for rapid contrast medium injection in angiography or computed tomography. (05 Mar 2000) |
| power plants | Units that convert some form of energy into electrical energy, such as hydroelectric or steam-generating stations, diesel-electric engines in locomotives, or nuclear power plants. (12 Dec 1998) |
| power point | In dentistry, the vertical dimension at which the greatest masticatory force may be registered. (05 Mar 2000) |
| power source | Devices that supply energy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pulsed power | <radiobiology> The technology of using electrical energy stores for producing multi-terawatt (10^12 Watts or higher) pulses of electrical power for inertial confinement fusion, nuclear weapon effects simulation, and directed energy weapons. High efficiency and cost effectiveness make it desirable technology for large energy experiments. (09 Oct 1997) |
| hydroelectric power | The generation of electricity using falling water. (05 Dec 1998) |
| stopping power | <radiobiology> The average rate of energy loss of a charged particle per unit thickness of a material or per unit mass of material traversed. (16 Dec 1997) |