van der Waals equation

noun

: an equation that defines the physical state of a homogeneous gas, is a modification of the ideal-gas equation, and more nearly describes the properties of actual gases: (p + (a/v²)) (v−b)=RT where p is the pressure, v the specific volume, R the gas constant, T the absolute temperature, and a and b are constants depending respectively on the cohesion between the molecules and the volume occupied by the molecules compare gas law sense c

Word History

Etymology

after Johannes D. van der Waals †1923 Dutch physicist

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!