Editing Anisotropy (section)

{{short description|In geometry, property of being directionally dependent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
[[File:WMAP 2010.png|thumb|upright=1.36|[[Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe|WMAP]] image of the tiny anisotropies in the [[cosmic microwave background radiation]]]]
'''Anisotropy''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ae|n|aɪ|ˈ|s|ɒ|t|r|ə|p|i|,_|ˌ|æ|n|ɪ|-}}) is the structural property of non-uniformity in different directions, as opposed to [[isotropy]]. An anisotropic object or pattern has properties that differ according to direction of measurement. For example, many materials exhibit very different [[physical property|physical]] or [[list of materials properties#Mechanical properties|mechanical properties]] when measured along different axes, e.g. [[absorbance]], [[refractive index]], [[electrical resistivity and conductivity|conductivity]], and [[tensile strength]].

An example of anisotropy is light coming through a [[polarizer]]. Another is [[wood]], which is easier to split along its [[wood grain|grain]] than across it because of the directional non-uniformity of the grain (the grain is the same in one direction, not all directions).