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differential

more about differential

differential


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Differential  \Dif`fer*en"tial\,  a.  [Cf.  F.  diff['e]rentiel.] 
  1.  Relating  to  or  indicating  a  difference;  creating  a 
  difference;  discriminating;  special;  as  differential 
  characteristics;  differential  duties;  a  differential  rate. 
 
  For  whom  he  produced  differential  favors.  --Motley. 
 
  2.  (Math.)  Of  or  pertaining  to  a  differential,  or  to 
  differentials. 
 
  3.  (Mech.)  Relating  to  differences  of  motion  or  leverage; 
  producing  effects  by  such  differences;  said  of  mechanism. 
 
  {Differential  calculus}.  (Math.)  See  under  {Calculus}. 
 
  {Differential  coefficient},  the  limit  of  the  ratio  of  the 
  increment  of  a  function  of  a  variable  to  the  increment  of 
  the  variable  itself  when  these  increments  are  made 
  indefinitely  small 
 
  {Differential  coupling},  a  form  of  slip  coupling  used  in 
  light  machinery  to  regulate  at  pleasure  the  velocity  of 
  the  connected  shaft. 
 
  {Differential  duties}  (Polit.  Econ.),  duties  which  are  not 
  imposed  equally  upon  the  same  products  imported  from 
  different  countries. 
 
  {Differential  galvanometer}  (Elec.),  a  galvanometer  having 
  two  coils  or  circuits,  usually  equal,  through  which 
  currents  passing  in  opposite  directions  are  measured  by 
  the  difference  of  their  effect  upon  the  needle. 
 
  {Differential  gearing},  a  train  of  toothed  wheels,  usually  an 
  epicyclic  train,  so  arranged  as  to  constitute  a 
  {differential  motion}. 
 
  {Differential  motion},  a  mechanism  in  which  a  simple 
  differential  combination  produces  such  a  change  of  motion 
  or  force  as  would  with  ordinary  compound  arrangements, 
  require  a  considerable  train  of  parts  It  is  used  for 
  overcoming  great  resistance  or  producing  very  slow  or  very 
  rapid  motion. 
 
  {Differential  pulley}.  (Mach.) 
  a  A  portable  hoisting  apparatus,  the  same  in  principle 
  as  the  differential  windlass. 
  b  A  hoisting  pulley  to  which  power  is  applied  through  a 
  differential  gearing. 
 
  {Differential  screw},  a  compound  screw  by  which  a  motion  is 
  produced  equal  to  the  difference  of  the  motions  of  the 
  component  screws. 
 
  {Differential  thermometer},  a  thermometer  usually  with  a 
  U-shaped  tube  terminating  in  two  air  bulbs,  and  containing 
  a  colored  liquid,  used  for  indicating  the  difference 
  between  the  temperatures  to  which  the  two  bulbs  are 
  exposed,  by  the  change  of  position  of  the  colored  fluid, 
  in  consequence  of  the  different  expansions  of  the  air  in 
  the  bulbs.  A  graduated  scale  is  attached  to  one  leg  of  the 
  tube. 
 
  {Differential  windlass},  or  {Chinese  windlass},  a  windlass 
  whose  barrel  has  two  parts  of  different  diameters.  The 
  hoisting  rope  winds  upon  one  part  as  it  unwinds  from  the 
  other  and  a  pulley  sustaining  the  weight  to  be  lifted 
  hangs  in  the  bight  of  the  rope.  It  is  an  ancient  example 
  of  a  differential  motion. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Differential  \Dif`fer*en"tial\,  n. 
  1.  (Math.)  An  increment,  usually  an  indefinitely  small  one 
  which  is  given  to  a  variable  quantity. 
 
  Note:  According  to  the  more  modern  writers  upon  the 
  differential  and  integral  calculus,  if  two  or  more 
  quantities  are  dependent  on  each  other  and  subject  to 
  increments  of  value,  their  differentials  need  not  be 
  small  but  are  any  quantities  whose  ratios  to  each 
  other  are  the  limits  to  which  the  ratios  of  the 
  increments  approximate,  as  these  increments  are  reduced 
  nearer  and  nearer  to  zero. 
 
  2.  A  small  difference  in  rates  which  competing  railroad 
  lines,  in  establishing  a  common  tariff,  allow  one  of  their 
  number  to  make  in  order  to  get  a  fair  share  of  the 
  business.  The  lower  rate  is  called  a  differential  rate. 
  Differentials  are  also  sometimes  granted  to  cities. 
 
  3.  (Elec.) 
  a  One  of  two  coils  of  conducting  wire  so  related  to  one 
  another  or  to  a  magnet  or  armature  common  to  both 
  that  one  coil  produces  polar  action  contrary  to  that 
  of  the  other 
  b  A  form  of  conductor  used  for  dividing  and  distributing 
  the  current  to  a  series  of  electric  lamps  so  as  to 
  maintain  equal  action  in  all  --Knight. 
 
  {Partial  differential}  (Math.),  the  differential  of  a 
  function  of  two  or  more  variables,  when  only  one  of  the 
  variables  receives  an  increment. 
 
  {Total  differential}  (Math.),  the  differential  of  a  function 
  of  two  or  more  variables,  when  each  of  the  variables 
  receives  an  increment.  The  total  differential  of  the 
  function  is  the  sum  of  all  the  {partial  differentials}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  differential 
  adj  1:  relating  to  or  showing  a  difference;  "differential 
  treatment" 
  2:  (mathematics)  involving  or  containing  one  or  more 
  derivatives;  "differential  equation" 
  n  1:  the  result  of  mathematical  differentiation;  the 
  instantaneous  change  of  one  quantity  relative  to 
  another;  df(x)/dx  [syn:  {derived  function},  {derivative}, 
  {differential  coefficient},  {first  derivative}] 
  2:  a  quality  that  differentiates  between  similar  things 
  3:  a  bevel  gear  that  permits  rotation  of  two  shafts  at 
  different  speeds;  used  on  the  rear  axle  of  automobiles  to 
  allow  wheels  to  rotate  at  different  speeds  on  curves  [syn: 
  {differential  gear}] 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  differential 
 
    {differential  line}. 
 
 




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