SPHERICAL ABERRATION Meaning and
Definition
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Spherical aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved mirror do not converge at a single focal point, resulting in a blurred or distorted image. It is caused by the varying shape or curvature of the lens or mirror, leading to different magnifications and focal lengths across its surface.
When parallel rays of light pass through the edges or peripheral regions of a lens, they are refracted (bent) more than those passing through the center. As a result, the rays do not converge at a single point, but rather form a series of focal lengths, known as focal planes. This causes the peripheral parts of the image to be out of focus compared to the center, resulting in a loss of image sharpness and clarity.
Spherical aberration can be minimized by using lenses or mirrors with more complex shapes, such as aspheric lenses, which have a non-uniform surface curvature that compensates for the distortion. Additionally, the use of multiple lenses or lens combinations, such as apochromatic or achromatic lenses, can help reduce spherical aberration.
The effect of spherical aberration is particularly noticeable in telescopes and cameras, where precise focus and image quality are essential. By understanding and accounting for spherical aberration, optical systems can be optimized to produce clearer, sharper, and more accurate images.
Common Misspellings for SPHERICAL ABERRATION
- apherical aberration
- zpherical aberration
- xpherical aberration
- dpherical aberration
- epherical aberration
- wpherical aberration
- soherical aberration
- slherical aberration
- s-herical aberration
- s0herical aberration
- spgerical aberration
- spberical aberration
- spnerical aberration
- spjerical aberration
- spuerical aberration
- spyerical aberration
- sphwrical aberration
- sphsrical aberration
- sphdrical aberration
Etymology of SPHERICAL ABERRATION
The word "spherical" comes from the Late Latin term "sphaericus", which is derived from the Greek word "sphaira" meaning "ball" or "globe". It ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *sphera- meaning "round".
The term "aberration" comes from the Latin word "aberratio", which means "a wandering away". It is derived from the verb "aberrare", which combines "ab-" (indicating separation or departure) with "errare" meaning "to wander" or "to go astray".
When combined, "spherical aberration" refers to the optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or mirror do not focus to a single point due to the spherical shape of the lens or mirror.
Similar spelling words for SPHERICAL ABERRATION
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