vierpunt

Vierpunt is a Dutch term that literally means four points. In general, it denotes configurations, devices, or methods that involve four distinct points of contact, reference, or measurement. The word is used across disciplines to describe arrangements where four points play a defining role, rather than to denote a single named object.

Etymology and usage notes: The compound combines vier (four) and punt (point). As a descriptive label, vierpunt appears in technical and scientific contexts to indicate a four-point configuration rather than a specific standard device.

Scientific and engineering applications: The most common technical use is in the four-point probe method (vierpuntmeting). This arrangement places four equally spaced probes in a line on a material surface. A current is applied through the outer probes and the voltage is measured by the inner probes, allowing calculation of sheet resistance. The method minimizes errors due to contact resistance and is widely used in materials science, electronics, and thin-film characterization.

Numerical methods and design: In numerical analysis and computational methods, four-point formulations or stencils refer to schemes that use four sample points to estimate derivatives, integrals, or other quantities. Such four-point configurations appear in finite-difference discretizations and related algorithms, where accuracy and stability depend on the specific stencil chosen.

Other contexts: Beyond precise definitions, vierpunt serves as a generic descriptor for any four-point arrangement in sensors, calibration rigs, or experimental setups. In Dutch technical writing, the term is often clarified by context or paired with a more specific noun (for example, vierpuntmeting or vierpuntsconfiguratie).

See also: vierpuntmeting, vierpuntsconfiguratie.