torsibility (torsibiliti)

[L. tors us, pp. of torquere, twist, + -ible + -ity (see -bility ).] Capability of being twisted. Torsibility of a body is measured in the simplest case that of a rod or wire - in terms of the angle through which a unit of force, applied at the distance of 1 cm. from the axis of the rod or wire, can twist it. The resistance to torsion is the reciprocal of this angle. A. Daniell , Prin. of Physics, p. 234. torsion (tor's hon), n. [Formerly also tortion; torsion = Pr. torsio = Sp. torsion = Pg. tor são = It. torzione , tortio ( n- ) , torsio ( n- ), а twisting, wringing, griping, torture, torment, torquere , pp. tort us , twist, wring: see tort1 .] 1. The act or effect of twisting; a forcible strain of a solid body by which parallel planes are turned relatively to one another round an axis perpendicular to them. The word is also used, with le propriety, in pure geometry, to signify a similar distortion without any reference to resistance. The force of torsion is proportional to the angle of tor sion . S. P. Thompson , Elect. and Mag., p. 16. inclination to one another of two consecutive osculating planes to a non-plane curve. - Coefficient of torsion. See coefficient.-Radius of torsion. See radius. - Torsion balance, an instrument for measuring horizontal forces, consisting of an arm hung at its center of gravity from a wire, fiber of silk, or something of the kind. The horizontal force is so arranged that it shall tend to make the arm revolve and thus twist the wire, and is balanced by the elasticity of the wire and the force of gravity. Coulomb, the inventor of the balance (1736-1806), showed that the angle of torsion, or angle through which the arm is dis placed from the position of equilibrium, is proportional to the force, or, in accurate mathematical language, to the twisting moment of the force. - Torsion electrometer, an electrometer containing a torsion balance as a part of it. So torsion galvanometer, etc. - Torsion forceps, a forceps for twisting the end of a divided artery to stop its bleeding. - Torsion of the humerus, a seeming twist of the shaft of the human humerus, which appears to have carried the line of the transverse axis of the condyles to an angle with the line of the transverse axis of the head of the bone. It is a deceptive appearance, due to the spiral course of the musculospiral nerve and superior pro fund a artery impre ing a spiral groove upon the back of the bone. The idea was conceived to account for the relative position of the axes of the head and condyles. torsional (tor's hon-al), a. [ Certain breakages of this cla may be accounted for by the action of a torsional ruptive force on rounding The Engineer, LXIX. 492. curves. torsionally (tor's hon-al-i), adv. With, by, or through torsion; with respect to torsion. Na ture, XLI. 198. torsion le (tor's hon-les), a. [ The magnetometer M consists of a small circular mirror with two short magnetic needles attached to tortile His own sins are guilty of this tort offered to the Son of God. Bp . Hall , Sermons, xxxviii. 2. In law , a wrong such as the law requires compensation for in damages; an infringement or privation of the private or civil rights of a person considered as a private person or an owner. The same act considered in its relation to the state may be a crime. To constitute a tort , two things must concur - actual or legal damage to the plaintiff, and a wrongful act committed by the defendant. Add is on . Tort , as a word of art in the law of England and the United States, is the name of civil wrongs (not being merely breaches of contract) for which there is a remedy by action in courts of common law jurisdiction. It may be said to correspond approximately to the term "delict" in Roman law and the systems derived from it. Encyc . Brit ., XXIII. 454. Action of tort, an action the cause or foundation of which is a wrong, as distinguished from an action on contract. - Executor de son tort. See executor. - In tort, by reason of tort; with reference to tort: as, suing in tort. - Maritime tort. See maritime. To count in tort. See count1.