入射角 (rù shè jiǎ) — angle of incidence

Definition

Physics term: the angle at which a ray (of light, sound, etc.) hits a surface. Pairs with 反射角 (fǎnshèjiǎo, 'angle of reflection') — the law of reflection states the two angles are equal.

noun
angle of incidence

Examples

  • ,入射角。
    Guāng xiàn cóng kōng qì shè rù shuǐ zhōng shí, rù shè jiǎ huì fā shēng biàn huà.
    When light goes from air into water, the angle of incidence changes.
  • 入射角。
    Fǎn shè jiǎo děng yú rù shè jiǎ.
    The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
  • ,入射角。
    Zài zhè ge shí yàn zhōng, wǒ men xū yào cè liáng rù shè jiǎ.
    In this experiment, we need to measure the angle of incidence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

入射incidence
入rùenter射shèshoot/radiate
联合Side by side

入 ('enter'), 射 ('shoot/radiate'), and 角 ('angle') together mean angle of incidence.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

入 is drawn as an arrowhead, indicating 'to enter'.

Open 入 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 角 is a picture of a horn.

Open 角 →

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