statistical mechanics
nounEtymology Coined by American scientist Josiah Willard Gibbs in 1884, with a presentation to the American Association for the Advancement of Science titled "On the Fundamental Formula of Statistical Mechanics, with Applications to Astronomy and Thermodynamics". He attributed the choice of the word "statistical" to James Clerk Maxwell.
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Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics The branch of physics that uses statistical laws to make theoretical predictions about macroscopic systems of particles.
- Synonyms
- statistical thermodynamics
- Related terms
- Boltzmannian