Definition

1. Noun:
   • An optical instrument for measuring the angle of rotation of the plane of polarization of light: A polarimeter is a scientific device used to determine the optical activity of a substance by measuring how much it rotates the plane of polarized light passing through it.

Usage

• A polarimeter is used primarily in chemistry, physics, and pharmaceuticals to analyze substances, determine their concentration, or identify their chiral properties.
• The core operation involves passing plane-polarized light through a sample and measuring the angle through which the light's vibration plane is rotated.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The chemist used a polarimeter to determine the purity of the sugar solution.
  • Optical activity, measured with a polarimeter, is a key property of many organic compounds.

Advanced Usage

• "Saccharimeter": A specific type of polarimeter used for measuring the concentration of sugar solutions.
  • The quality control lab employs a saccharimeter, a specialized polarimeter, to test the syrup.

Variants and Related Words

• Polarimetry (n): The science or process of measuring the polarization of light or the optical activity of materials.
  • Polarimetry is an essential technique in analytical chemistry.
• Polarimetric (adj): Relating to or involving a polarimeter or polarimetry.
  • The study included a detailed polarimetric analysis.

Synonyms

• Optical rotatory device: A more general term for an instrument that measures the rotation of polarized light.
• Saccharimeter: (Context-specific) A polarimeter calibrated for sugar analysis.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Optical activity: The property of a substance to rotate the plane of polarized light.
• Polarizer: An optical filter that produces plane-polarized light from unpolarized light, often used in conjunction with a polarimeter.

Noun

1. an optical device used to measure the rotation of the plane of vibration of polarized light