reduced mass

noun Mechanics.

a quantity obtained when one particle is moving about another, larger particle that is also moving, equivalent to the mass of the smaller particle, were the larger particle not moving, and equal to the quotient of the product of the two masses divided by their sum.

Origin of reduced mass

First recorded in 1930–35

Words nearby reduced mass

reduced, reduced glutathione, reduced hematin, reduced hemoglobin, reduced level, reduced mass, reduced paid-up insurance, reducer, reducible, reducible hernia, reducing agent