inverse square law

noun

, Physics, Optics.

1. one of several laws relating two quantities such that one quantity varies inversely as the square of the other, as the law that the illumination produced on a screen by a point source varies inversely as the square of the distance of the screen from the source.

inverse square law

noun

1. any natural law in which the magnitude of a physical quantity varies inversely with the square of the distance from its source

inverse-square law

1. The principle in physics that the effect of certain forces on an object varies by the inverse square of the distance between the object and the source of the force. The magnitude of light, sound, and gravity obey this law, as do other quantities. For example, an object placed three feet away from a light source will receive only one ninth ( 1 3 ² , the inverse of 3 squared) as much illumination as an object placed one foot from the light.

Example Sentences

The researchers found that all the unique choices people make—from dropping kids at school to shopping or commuting—obey this inverse square law when considered in aggregate.

From Scientific American

This work so clearly pointed the way ahead that even if a rare genius such as Isaac Newton had not come along at about this time, there can be little doubt that the famous inverse square law of gravity would have been discovered by somebody in the next generation of scientists.

From Literature

But was this an inevitable consequence of an inverse square law?

From Literature

Hooke, though, told the other two that he could derive all the laws of planetary motion starting out from the assumption of an inverse square law.

From Literature

Whatever, there is no doubt that when Halley did visit Newton they discussed planetary orbits and the inverse square law.

From Literature