Brownian Motion (Noun)
Meaning
The random motion of small particles suspended in a gas or liquid.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- Brownian motion was first described by Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1827 when he observed pollen grains suspended in water under a microscope.
- The zigzagging motion of dust particles in the air is a perfect example of Brownian motion caused by collisions with surrounding air molecules.
- Scientists study Brownian motion to better understand the properties of particles and the surrounding medium they are suspended in.
- Albert Einstein provided a theoretical explanation of Brownian motion in his famous paper in 1905, offering further insight into the kinetic theory of gases.
- By tracking the Brownian motion of individual molecules, researchers can measure properties such as viscosity, temperature, and diffusion rates in complex systems.