point source
A 'point source' is a concept used across various fields to describe a single, localized origin of emissions, whether they be pollutants, radiation, or other substances.
Definition
C1Environmental Science
(technical)A single, identifiable origin of pollutants, such as a factory or sewage plant, emitting substances into the environment.
Example
- The factory was identified as a point source of pollution affecting the river.
C1Physics
(technical)An idealized origin of radiation or waves that emits from a single location in space.
Example
- In theoretical models, the radiation was treated as coming from a point source.
C1Astronomy
(technical)A celestial object, like a star, that appears as a small point of light due to its great distance.
Example
- The star was observed as a point source of light in the telescope.
C1Optics
(technical)A source of light that is small enough to be considered a single point, emitting light in all directions.
Example
- For the experiment, the laser was treated as a point source of light.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "point source":
point massdouble pointdata pointpoint personpoint of contactreporting point