critical constant

[ krit-i-kuhl kon-stuhnt ]

/ ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl ˈkɒn stənt /

noun Physics.

any of three constants (density, pressure, temperature) associated with the critical point of a pure element or compound: The equation predicts a value of 3.53 for the critical constant and gives better agreement with observed behavior for simpler gases.

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Question 1 of 9

You may have read the word "simmer" in a recipe or two, but what does it really mean?

To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil.

To stew in a sauce for a long time.

To cook in water, just below boiling temperature.

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Compare critical density, critical pressure, critical temperature.

Origin of critical constant

First recorded in 1905–10

Words nearby critical constant

critic, critical, critical angle, critical apparatus, critical care unit, critical constant, critical constants, critical damping, critical density, criticality, critically

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