Atwood machine

noun

A device used to verify the mechanical laws of motion with constant acceleration, consisting of two objects of known masses connected by a string over a pulley.

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Meanings

nounAtwood machine (plural Atwood machines)

plural Atwood machines · alternative Atwood's machine

  1. A device used to verify the mechanical laws of motion with constant acceleration, consisting of two objects of known masses connected by a string over a pulley.

Origin

Invented in 1784 by the English mathematician George Atwood.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish spadkownica
  • spadkownicaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

Atwood machine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Atwood%20machine

MLA

“Atwood machine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Atwood%20machine. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Atwood machine,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Atwood%20machine.

Source: Atwood machine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.