Brownian ratchet en · NOUN
Etymology
In reference to Brownian motion.
Meanings
- An apparent perpetual motion machine, the subject of a thought experiment, that would consist of a tiny paddle wheel and a ratchet, and might seem to be able to extract useful work from random fluctuations (heat) in a system at thermal equilibrium, in violation of the second law of thermodynamics.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownian ratchets | Number=Plur | lexicographic |