SINCE 1828
d'Alembert's principle
noun
d'A·lem·bert's principle
| \ ¦daləm¦be(ə)rz-\
Definition of d'Alembert's principle
: a principle in mechanics: the reaction due to the inertia of an accelerated body (as a baseball) is equal and opposite to the force causing the acceleration (as the blow of a bat upon the baseball) and results in a condition of kinetic equilibrium — compare law of motion sense 3
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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