bifidity (bifid it i)

[ quality or state of being bifid. bifilar (bi-fi'lär), a. and n. [ suring horizontal couples or forces of rotation, first used in the bifilar magnetometer. The needle, bar, disk, or other body which the couple to be measured is to turn is suspended at equal distances from and on opposite sides of its center of gravity by two equally long threads from two fixed points on one higher level. Thus, under the influence of gravity alone, the suspended body comes to equilibrium with the two threads in a vertical plane. When it is turned through any angle about a vertical axis through its center, its weight tends to restore it to its original position; and the moment of this force of restitution can be accurately calculated from the lengths of the threads, the distances of their attachments, and the weight of the suspended body. This moment in creases with the angle of displacement up to 90°; consequently, if the force to be measured is not too great, it will, when it is applied, bring the suspended body to equilibrium in a new position, the inclination of which from the old position being observed affords the means of calculating the magnitude of the force. II. n. A micrometer fitted with two threads. bifilarly (bi-fi'lär-li), adv . In a bifilar manner; by means of two threads: as, "supported bifilarly ," S. P. Thompson , Elect. and Mag., p. 298. bifistular, bifistulous (bi-fis'tū-lär, -lus), a. [