Principal Axis (Noun)
Meaning
A line that passes through the center of curvature of a lens so that light is neither reflected nor refracted; "in a normal eye the optic axis is the direction in which objects are seen most distinctly".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The principal axis of the lens is the line that passes through its center of curvature and is perpendicular to the lens surface.
- In optics, the principal axis is an imaginary line that passes through the center of a lens and is used as a reference for measuring angles and positions.
- The principal axis of a mirror is the line that passes through the center of curvature of the mirror and is perpendicular to the mirror surface.
- In a normal eye, the optic axis is the direction in which objects are seen most distinctly and is often referred to as the principal axis.
- The principal axis of a lens system is the line that passes through the centers of curvature of all the lenses and is used to determine the overall optical properties of the system.