spherical Definition
shaped like a sphere; having the shape of a round ball.
Using spherical: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "spherical" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The Earth is roughly spherical in shape.
Example
The bubbles in the drink were perfectly spherical.
Example
The sculpture was a perfect spherical shape.
Example
The planetarium projected a spherical image of the galaxy.
spherical Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with spherical
spherical coordinates
a coordinate system for three-dimensional space where the position of a point is specified by three numbers: the radial distance of that point from a fixed origin, its polar angle measured from a fixed zenith direction, and the azimuthal angle of its orthogonal projection on a reference plane that passes through the origin and is orthogonal to the zenith, measured from a fixed reference direction on that plane.
Example
Spherical coordinates are used in many areas of physics, including classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and electromagnetism.
an optical effect observed in an optical device (lens, mirror, etc.) that occurs due to the increased refraction of light rays when they strike a lens or a reflection of light rays when they strike a mirror near its edge compared to those that strike nearer the center.
Example
Spherical aberration can be corrected by using a combination of lenses or mirrors that have different curvatures.
spherical harmonics
a set of special functions defined on the surface of a sphere that are widely used in physics and mathematics to describe the behavior of waves, such as sound waves and electromagnetic waves.
Example
Spherical harmonics are used in quantum mechanics to describe the behavior of electrons in atoms.
Summary: spherical in Brief
The term 'spherical' [ˈsfɛrɪkəl] refers to something that is shaped like a sphere or round ball. It is often used to describe objects in science and mathematics, such as 'spherical coordinates' and 'spherical harmonics.' Examples include 'The Earth is roughly spherical in shape' and 'The sculpture was a perfect spherical shape.' Synonyms include 'round,' 'globular,' and 'orbicular.'
