1.
[syn: angle of incidence, incidence angle]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Incidence \In"ci*dence\, n. [Cf. F. incidence.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A falling on or upon; an incident; an event; an
occurrence. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Physics) The direction in which a body, or a ray of light
or heat, falls on any surface.
[1913 Webster]
In equal incidences there is a considerable
inequality of refractions. --Sir I.
Newton.
[1913 Webster]
3. The rate or ratio at which something occurs; as, the
incidence of murder in Los Angeles; the incidence of
cancer in men over 50.
[PJC]
Angle of incidence, the angle which a ray of light, or the
line of incidence of a body, falling on any surface, makes
with a perpendicular to that surface; also formerly, the
complement of this angle.
Line of incidence, the line in the direction of which a
surface is struck by a body, ray of light, and the like.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Angle of incidence \Angle of incidence\ (A["e]ronautics)
The angle between the chord of an a["e]rocurve and the
relative direction of the undisturbed air current.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
angle of incidence
n 1: the angle that a line makes with a line perpendicular to
the surface at the point of incidence [syn: angle of
incidence, incidence angle]