Goniometer

  A goniometer is an instrument that either measures angles or allows an object to be rotated to a precise angular position. The term goniometry is derived from two Greek words, gonia, meaning angle and metron, meaning measure.

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Types

There are many types of goniometers, each specialised for its particular application.

Audio

Main article: Goniometer (audio)

An audio goniometer is used to visualize the amount of stereo in a signal.

Communications

Goniometers are used for direction finding in signals intelligence applications for military and civil purposes^[1], e.g. interception of satellite and naval communications as performed on the French warship Dupuy de Lôme uses multiple goniometers.

Crystallography

  in crystallography, goniometers are used for measuring angles between crystal faces. They are also used in X-ray diffraction to rotate the samples. The groundbreaking investigations of physicist Max von Laue and cohorts into the atomic structure of crystals in 1912 involved a goniometer.

Physical therapy

In occupational therapy and physical therapy, a goniometer is a tool which measures a joint's axis and range of motion. If a patient or client is suffering from decreased range of motion in a joint (i.e. a knee or elbow), the therapist can use a goniometer to assess what the range of motion is prior to intervention, and then make sure the intervention is working by using the goniometer in subsequent interventions.

Surface science

In surface science, an instrument generally called a contact angle goniometer is used to measure the contact angle at which a liquid/vapor interface meets a solid surface. The first contact angle goniometer was designed by Dr. William Zisman of the United States Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC and manufactured by ramé-hart of Mountain Lakes, NJ. This tool is used not only for contact angle and surface energy applications, but also to measure surface tension using pendant drop, sessile drop, and other methods. The original manual contact angle goniometer used an eyepiece with microscope. The current generation of contact angle instruments uses cameras and software to capture and analyze the drop shape and are better suited for dynamic and advanced studies.

Positioning

Main article: Positioning goniometer

  A positioning goniometer or goniometric stage is a device used to rotate an object precisely about a fixed axis in space. It is similar to a linear stage, however, rather than moving linearly with respect to its base, the stage platform rotates partially about a fixed axis above the mounting surface of the platform. Positioning goniometers typically use a worm drive with a partial worm wheel fixed to the underside of the stage platform meshing with a worm in the base. The worm may be rotated manually or by a motor as in automated positioning systems.

Knife and blade cutting edge angle measurement

The included cutting angles of all kinds of sharp edge blades is measured using a laser reflecting goniometer. Developed by CATRA in the UK, a range of devices can accurately determine the cutting edge profile including a rounding of the tip to 1/2°. The included angle of a blade is important in controlling its sharpness and edge strength, i.e a low angle makes the edge very sharp but weak and a large angle makes the edge blunt but very strong.

References

1. ^ Jacqueline Boucher (2007-05-03). Radio receiver workload accelerates. Retrieved on 2007-09-21.

See also

• Instrumentation
• Protractor
• Trigonometry