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equipartition

equipartition

9.3
Equal sharing of something into the same parts, for example energy among molecules
  • noun
  • /ˌiːkwɪˈpɑːrtɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : equipartición
  • In statistical mechanics, equipartition helps explain how energy is allocated among the different molecular motions.

Examples

  • The IGL is derived using a hard sphere interaction or no interaction, but a presumption of equilibrium and hence equipartition.

    Blog text (18)
  • Not any obvious way other than equipartition, but somehow.

    Blog text (18)
  • For high temperatures, this expression reduces to the classical equipartition of energy: each mode carries kBT of energy.

    Academic text (2006)
  • He noted that the assumed equipartition of energy, which in the late 19th century led to the failed attempts to understand blackbody radiation within the classical framework and which led Planck to introduce his quantum hypothesis, was not as well-founded as many researchers had believed.

    Academic text (2002)
  • According to the equipartition theorem, systems in thermal equilibrium will share energy equally among available degrees of freedom.

  • The principle of equipartition states that at thermal equilibrium, each degree of freedom will have an average energy of kBT.

Synonyms

equidistribution
vsequipartition
  • Specialized
9.9

All possible results are equally likely

focuses on dividing energy or matter into equal physical parts in physics

How Even

equipartition
  • Specialized
9.3
to halve
6 3.6
to apportion
8 7.0
to partition
10 4.0

Surface Forms

equipartition singular

Morphology

equipartition = partition (semi-transparent) = equi + part + ition

The prefix 'equi-' clearly indicates equality, but the specific scientific application may not be immediately clear to all learners.

Etymology

The word equipartition comes from the parts equi- meaning 'equal' and partition meaning 'a division', so it means an 'equal division'. That's why in physics it describes energy being shared equally among parts, and why it can also mean dividing things or people into equal groups.