virial

noun

vir·​i·​al

ˈvirēəl

plural -s

: half the product of the stress due to the attraction or repulsion between two particles in space times the distance between them or in the case of more than two particles half the sum of such products taken for the entire system

Word History

Etymology

German, from Latin vires, plural, strength, power + German -ial; akin to Latin vis strength, force, violence

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