collimator

/'kɔlimeitə/

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Word: Collimator

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A collimator is an optical device that helps to direct light rays so they travel in parallel lines. It usually consists of a tube with a special lens (called a convex achromatic lens) at one end and a narrow opening (called a slit) at the other end. The light that comes through the slit is focused by the lens, allowing it to form a parallel beam of light.

Usage Instructions

• Basic Use: You can use "collimator" when discussing tools or devices related to optics, physics, or astronomy.
• Context: It is often used in scientific and technical contexts where precise light direction is necessary.

Example Sentence

• "The scientist used a collimator to ensure that the light beams in his experiment were perfectly parallel."

Advanced Usage

In advanced settings, a collimator may be used in various applications, such as in telescopes to enhance their accuracy or in medical imaging devices to focus light for better imaging quality.

Word Variants

• Collimation (noun): The process of adjusting the collimator so that the light rays are parallel.
• Collimated (adjective): Describes light that has been adjusted to be parallel.

Different Meanings

While "collimator" primarily refers to the optical device, in a broader sense, the term can sometimes refer to any tool or method that aligns or directs something in a straight line.

Synonyms

• Optical aligner
• Beam director

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "collimator." However, you can think of phrases like "to align" or "to focus" when discussing its function.

Summary

A collimator is an essential tool in optics, helping to ensure that light travels in parallel lines for accuracy in various scientific applications.

Academic

Noun

1. optical device consisting of a tube containing a convex achromatic lens at one end and a slit at the other with the slit at the focus of the lens; light rays leave the slit as a parallel beam
2. a small telescope attached to a large telescope to use in setting the line of the larger one