maxwell | (n) a cgs unit of magnetic flux equal to the flux perpendicular to an area of 1 square centimeter in a magnetic field of 1 gauss, Syn. Mx |
maxwell | (n) Scottish physicist whose equations unified electricity and magnetism and who recognized the electromagnetic nature of light (1831-1879), Syn. James Clerk Maxwell, J. C. Maxwell |
maxwell-boltzmann distribution law | (n) (physics) a law expressing the distribution of energy among the molecules of a gas in thermal equilibrium, Syn. Boltzmann distribution law |
maxwell's demon | (n) an imaginary creature that controls a small hole in a partition that divides a chamber filled with gas into two parts and allows fast molecules to move in one direction and slow molecules to move in the other direction through the hole; this would result in one part of the container becoming warmer and the other cooler, thus decreasing entropy and violating the second law of thermodynamics |
maxwell's equations | (n) four differential equations that summarize classical properties of electromagnetic fields |