[f. Gr. στρόβο-ς a twisting or whirling round + -SCOPE.]
a. A scientific toy that produces the illusion of motion by a series of pictures viewed through the openings of a revolving disc. b. An instrument for observing the successive phases of a periodic motion by means of light periodically interrupted.
a. 1836. [see STROBOSCOPICAL].
1882. L. Campbell, Life J. C. Maxwell, ii. 36. A scientific toy had recently come into vogue, an improvement on the thaumatrope, called variously by the names ‘phenakistoscope,’ ‘stroboscope,’ or ‘magic disc.’
b. 1896. Fr. A. Welby, trans. Biedermann’s Electro-Physiol., I. 409. If two interrupters are used, one of which is connected with the capillary electrometer, the other with the stroboscope.
1903. Engineering, 18 Dec., 837/1. A special differential stroboscope, in which the motor was illuminated only once in every two revolutions.
