Joule-Thomson effect

noun

The temperature change of a real gas or liquid (as differentiated from an ideal gas) when it is forced through a valve or porous plug while kept insulated so that no heat is exchanged with the environment.

Similar
Joule-Kelvin effectJoule-Thomson expansionKelvin-Joule effect
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Meanings

nounJoule-Thomson effect (plural Joule-Thomson effects)

plural Joule-Thomson effects

  1. natural sciencesThe temperature change of a real gas or liquid (as differentiated from an ideal gas) when it is forced through a valve or porous plug while kept insulated so that no heat is exchanged with the environment.

    Synonyms: Joule-Kelvin effect, Joule-Thomson expansion, Kelvin-Joule effect

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe temperature change of a real gas or liquid (as differentiated from an ideal gas) when it is forced through a valve or porous plug while kept insulated so that no heat is exchanged with the environment.

Similar
Joule-Kelvin effectJoule-Thomson expansionKelvin-Joule effect
Also see
joule-kelvin effectjoule-thomson expansionkelvin-joule effect

Origin

Named after James Prescott Joule and William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, who discovered it in 1852.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Joule-Thomson effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Joule-Thomson%20effect

MLA

“Joule-Thomson effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Joule-Thomson%20effect. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Joule-Thomson effect,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Joule-Thomson%20effect.

Source: Joule-Thomson effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.