WordNet-Online
Free dictionary and thesaurus of English. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and more...
Hint: double-click any word to get it searched!

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.wordnet-online.com

Definitions from WordNet

Definitions from the Web

Johannes Diderik Van der Waals

Description:

Johannes Diderik Van der Waals was a Dutch physicist and thermodynamicist known for his work on intermolecular forces. He made significant contributions to the understanding of gases, liquids, and solids, and his name became associated with the van der Waals forces. Van der Waals was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1910 for his research in these fields.

Sense 1: Noun

Van der Waals can refer to the intermolecular forces acting between atoms or molecules, which are responsible for many physical properties of matter.

Related products: Intermolecular Forces Books

Sense 2: Adjective

Van der Waals can be used to describe phenomena or properties that are influenced by intermolecular forces, such as van der Waals radius or van der Waals equation of state.

Related products: Van der Waals Equation Books

Sense 3: Proper Noun

Johannes Diderik Van der Waals also refers to the person himself, a renowned physicist and Nobel laureate, who made groundbreaking contributions to the field of thermodynamics.

Related products: Johannes Diderik Van der Waals Biography Books

Sample Sentences:

• The van der Waals forces play a crucial role in determining the boiling point of a substance.
• The volume of a gas can be calculated more accurately using the van der Waals equation.
• Johannes Diderik Van der Waals was a pioneer in the field of thermodynamics.