polarity (redirected from polarities)

polarity

(1) The direction of charged particles, which may determine the binary status of a bit.

(2) In micrographics, the change in the light to dark relationship of an image when copies are made. Positive polarity is dark characters on a light background; negative polarity is light characters on a dark background.

---

polarity

the condition of a body or system in which it has opposing physical properties at different points, esp magnetic poles or electric charge

---

polarity [pə′lar·əd·ē]

(communications)

The direction in which a direct current flows, in a teletypewriter system.

The sense of the potential of a portion of a television picture signal representing a dark area of a scene relative to the potential of a portion of the signal representing a light area.

(mathematics)

Property of a line segment whose two ends are distinguishable.

(cell and molecular biology)

The orientation of a strand of polynucleotide with respect to its partner, expressed in terms of nucleotide linkages.

(physics)

Property of a physical system which has two points with different (usually opposite) characteristics, such as one which has opposite charges or electric potentials, or opposite magnetic poles.