Deviations from the normal type. --Hallam.
2. (Geom.) According to a square or rule; perpendicular;
forming a right angle. Specifically: Of or pertaining to a
normal.
3. (Chem.) Standard; original; exact; typical. Specifically:
(a) (Quantitative Analysis) Denoting a solution of such
strength that every cubic centimeter contains the same
number of milligrams of the element in question as the
number of its molecular weight.
(b) (Chem.) Denoting certain hypothetical compounds, as
acids from which the real acids are obtained by
dehydration; thus, normal sulphuric acid and normal
nitric acid are respectively {S(OH)6}, and {N(OH)5}.
(c) (Organ. Chem.) Denoting that series of hydrocarbons in
which no carbon atom is united with more than two
other carbon atoms; as, normal pentane, hexane, etc.
Cf. {Iso-}.
{Normal equations} (Method of Least Squares), a set of
equations of the first degree equal in number to the
number of unknown quantities, and derived from the
observations by a specified process. The solution of the
normal equations gives the most probable values of the
unknown quantities.
{Normal group} (Geol.), a group of rocks taken as a standard.
--Lyell.
{Normal place} (of a planet or comet) (Astron.), the apparent
place in the heavens of a planet or comet at a specified
time, the place having been determined by a considerable
number of observations, extending perhaps over many days,
and so combined that the accidental errors of observation
have largely balanced each other.
{Normal school}, a school whose methods of instruction are to
serve as a model for imitation; an institution for the
training of teachers.
2. (Geom.) A straight line or plane drawn from any point of a
curve or surface so as to be perpendicular to the curve or
surface at that point.
Note: The term normal is also used to denote the distance
along the normal line from the curve to the axis of
abscissas or to the center of curvature.
2. (Geol. & Mining) A dislocation caused by a slipping of
rock masses along a plane of facture; also, the dislocated
structure resulting from such slipping.
Note: The surface along which the dislocated masses have
moved is called the
{fault plane}. When this plane is vertical, the fault is a
{vertical fault}; when its inclination is such that the
present relative position of the two masses could have
been produced by the sliding down, along the fault plane,
of the mass on its upper side, the fault is a
{normal}, or {gravity}, {fault}. When the fault plane is so
inclined that the mass on its upper side has moved up
relatively, the fault is then called a
{reverse} (or {reversed}), {thrust}, or {overthrust},
{fault}. If no vertical displacement has resulted, the fault
is then called a
{horizontal fault}. The linear extent of the dislocation
measured on the fault plane and in the direction of
movement is the
{displacement}; the vertical displacement is the
{throw}; the horizontal displacement is the
{heave}. The direction of the line of intersection of the
fault plane with a horizontal plane is the
{trend} of the fault. A fault is a
{strike fault} when its trend coincides approximately with
the strike of associated strata (i.e., the line of
intersection of the plane of the strata with a horizontal
plane); it is a
{dip fault} when its trend is at right angles to the strike;
an
{oblique fault} when its trend is oblique to the strike.
Oblique faults and dip faults are sometimes called
{cross faults}. A series of closely associated parallel
faults are sometimes called