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Atwood's machine

American  

noun

Physics.

  1. a device consisting of two unequal masses connected by a string passed over a pulley, used to illustrate the laws of motion.

Etymology

Origin of Atwood's machine

Named after George Atwood (1746–1807), English mathematician who invented it

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For the only "machines" possible to use in illustration of simple mechanics are the screw, the wedge, the scale, the lever, the wheel-and-axle, and Atwood's machine.

From Prince Zaleski by Shiel, M. P. (Matthew Phipps)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.