Opisometer

Opisometer

An opisometer, also called a curvimeter, meilograph or map measurer, is an instrument for measuring the lengths of arbitrary curved lines.

An opisometer

A simple opisometer consists of a toothed wheel of known circumference on a handle. The wheel is placed in contact with the curved line to be measured and run along its length. By counting the number of teeth passing a mark on the handle while this is done, the length of the line can be ascertained:

line length = wheel circumference × teeth counted/teeth on wheel.

In more sophisticated models, the wheel is connected via gearing to a rotary dial from which the line length can be directly read.

The instrument is most commonly used to measure the lengths of roads, rivers and other line features on maps. Opisometers designed for this purpose provide scales reading the measured distance in kilometers and miles.

Media related to Opisometers at Wikimedia Commons The Wiktionary definition of opisometer


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Opisometer — Op i*som e*ter, n. [Gr. ? backwards + meter.] An instrument with a revolving wheel for measuring a curved line, as on a map. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Opisometer — Opisometer, (v. gr.), ein von Elliot erfundenes Instrument, mit welchem man die Länge von Wegen, Flüssen etc. auf Karten ermittelt. Zwei gabelförmige Schenkel sind durch eine feingeschnittene horizontale Schraubenspindel verbunden, auf welcher… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Opisométer — (griech.), s. Kurvenmesser …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Opisometer — Opisomēter (grch.), eine Art Kurvenmesser …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • opisometer — noun A device for measuring the length of curves, such as on a map. Syn: curvimeter, meilograph, map measurer …   Wiktionary

  • opisometer — instrument for measuring curved lines Scientific Instruments …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • opisometer — op·i·som·e·ter …   English syllables

  • opisometer —   n. instrument measuring curved lines …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • opisometer — ˌäpəˈsäməd.ə(r) noun Etymology: from Greek opisō backwards + English meter; akin to Greek opisthen : an instrument used for measuring curved lines (as on a map) and consisting essentially of a screw with a wheel shaped nut that is made to rotate… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Курвиметр — (opisometer)Opisometer, прибор, снабженный колесиком, который прокатывают на картах по кривым линиям для измерения их длины; показания прибора указываются на шкале …   Страны мира. Словарь

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”