ground state (redirected from ground states)

ground state

n.

The state of least possible energy in a physical system, as of elementary particles. Also called ground level.

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ground state, level

n

(Physics / General Physics) the lowest energy state of an atom, molecule, particle, etc. Compare excited [4]

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ground state

The state of a physical system having the lowest possible potential energy. For example, an electron in the lowest energy orbital in a hydrogen atom is in a ground state. The ground state of a physical system tends to be stable unless energy is applied to it from the outside; states that are not the ground state have a tendency to revert to the ground state, giving off energy in the process. Compare excited state.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ground state - (physics) the lowest energy state of an atom or other particle state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics"