ground state

noun

(physics) the lowest energy state of an atom or other particle

• Topics: ↑physics, ↑natural philosophy

• Hypernyms: ↑state

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noun

: the energy level of an atomic electron system, atomic nucleus, or other systems of interacting elementary particles having the least energy of all its possible states — called also ground level

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Physics.

the state of least energy of a particle, as an atom, or of a system of particles. Also called ground level.

[1925-30]

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ground state noun

The state of a nuclear system, atoms, etc when at their lowest (or normal) energy

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Main Entry: ↑ground

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ground state,

Physics. that state of energy of an atom in which the electrons are as near to the nucleus as possible; state of lowest energy. For hydrogen, the electron is at an average distance of.5 × 10^―10 meters from the proton.

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n. Physics the lowest energy state of an atom or other particle