stroboscope

views updated May 29 2018

stro·bo·scope / ˈstrōbəˌskōp/ • n. Physics an instrument for studying periodic motion or determining speeds of rotation by shining a momentary bright light at intervals so that a moving object appears stationary. ∎  a lamp made to flash intermittently, esp. for this purpose.DERIVATIVES: stro·bo·scop·ic / ˌstrōbəˈskäpik/ adj.stro·bo·scop·i·cal·ly / ˌstrōbəˈskäpik(ə)lē/ adv.

stroboscope

views updated May 21 2018

stroboscope (strobe) Device that emits regular flashes of light. Stroboscopes usually have a calibrated scale from which the number of flashes per minute can be read. They are used in photography to make multiple exposures of moving subjects and in engineering to apparently ‘slow down’ or ‘stop’ moving objects for observation.