potential gradient

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. the rate of change of potential with respect to distance in the direction of greatest change.

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Etymology

Origin of potential gradient

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

This is known as the potential gradient, and it is important in predicting the weather and understanding the chemical composition of the air.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2022

While doing this, Dr. Hunting noticed that, when the insects swarmed, there was a “profound effect” on the atmosphere’s potential gradient.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2022

They found that the densest swarms could magnify the local potential gradient to 10 times as much as its initial value.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2022

The meteorological situation . . . was such that a greater potential gradient* could not be present at the time of the fire.

From Time Magazine Archive

The potential gradient in the arc is very far from being uniform.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 8 "Conduction, Electric" by Various