Definition of chronoscope Chronoscope

chron•o•scope

We found 6 definitions of chronoscope from 6 different sources.

What does chronoscope mean?

WordNet

Noun

Plural: chronoscopes

chronoscope - an instrument for accurate measurements of small intervals of time

measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something

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Wiktionary

chronoscope (Noun)
An optical instrument used to measure very small time intervals with precision.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

chronoscope (n.)
An instrument for measuring minute intervals of time; used in determining the velocity of projectiles, the duration of short-lived luminous phenomena, etc.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

chronoscope
kron′ō-skōp, n. an instrument for measuring very short intervals of time, esp. with projectiles

Military DictionaryMilitary Dictionary and Gazetteer 💥

chronoscope
An instrument for measuring minute intervals of time. The term is specially applied by military men to instruments for obtaining initial velocities. The gun-pendulum and ballistic-pendulum were formerly used for this purpose, but are now nearly obsolete. All modern chronoscopes use electricity as a transmitting agent. The general method of applying it is to have the current-bearing wires pass through two targets placed in the path of the projectile. These wires are cut by the projectile, and the interval between the successive ruptures is recorded by a delicate time-keeper. Knowing the distance between the targets, the velocity is obtained by dividing this space, expressed in feet, by the number of seconds in the interval. Chronoscopes differ in the kind of time-keeper employed. One of the largest classes of chronoscopes use the pendulum.
The electro-ballistic machine of Col. Benton (U. S. Ordnance Department) may be taken as a type of this class. It consists of two pendulums having equal times of vibration suspended from the same horizontal axis. When the pendulums are deflected, one to the right the other to the left, through angles of 90°, pieces of soft iron attached to them come in contact with electro-magnets, which serve to hold them up. Each of these magnets is excited by a current passing through one of the targets. When the targets are ruptured the pendulums fall, and in passing each other record the point of meeting by operating a delicate bent lever attached to one of them, which leaves a dot of ink on the arc in front of which the pendulums vibrate. The interval of time between the rupture of the two targets is obtained from a table of arcs and corresponding times. Col. Benton has also invented an instrument called velocimeter, in which he uses threads instead of electro-magnets to hold up the pendulums. The threads pass through the targets, and when they are cut the pendulums fall as before. This method has found considerable favor where great accuracy is not required.
Schultz’s chronoscope uses as a time-keeper a tuning-fork, which, in its vibrations, traces a waved line upon a revolving cylinder. The rupture of each of the targets is recorded by an electric spark deposited on the cylinder near the waved line. The number of waves between the spark spots gives the interval of time when the period of vibration or tarage of the fork is known. The vibration of the fork is sustained by electro-magnets, which alternately attract and release the branches, an interrupter being placed in the circuit. When the current passing through the targets is broken an induced current is generated, which deposits the spark on the cylinder in leaping a short break in the circuit. When the first target is broken, by an ingenious contrivance the current is made through the second target before the shot reaches it. The tarage of the fork is obtained by placing a second’s pendulum in the target current, which ruptures the current in each vibration, and produces a series of spark spots on the cylinder. The number of waves between successive spots gives the number of vibrations to the second.
Boulanger’s chronograph is the simplest of all chronoscopes. It uses a rod held up vertically by a magnet, which is excited by a current through the first target. The current through the second target, when broken, releases a spring knife-blade, which, moving sideways, marks the rod in its fall. The interval of time is obtained from the distance through which the rod has fallen, as shown by the position of the mark. The end of the scale is marked when both currents are simultaneously broken.