In·ci·dence n.
1. A falling on or upon; an incident; an event; an occurrence. [Obs.]
2. Physics The direction in which a body, or a ray of light or heat, falls on any surface.
In equal incidences there is a considerable inequality of refractions. --Sir I. Newton.
Angle of incidence, the angle which a ray of light, or the line of incidence of a body, falling on any surface, makes with a perpendicular to that surface; also formerly, the complement of this angle.
Line of incidence, the line in the direction of which a surface is struck by a body, ray of light, and the like.
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