Norton's dome

proper noun

A thought experiment that exhibits a nondeterministic system within the bounds of Newtonian mechanics. It involves an idealized particle initially sitting motionless at the apex of an idealized radially symmetrical frictionless dome of a certain form. The particle may, after an arbitrary period of time, slide down the dome in an arbitrary direction, contrary to intuition.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. A thought experiment that exhibits a nondeterministic system within the bounds of Newtonian mechanics. It involves an idealized particle initially sitting motionless at the apex of an idealized radially symmetrical frictionless dome of a certain form. The particle may, after an arbitrary period of time, slide down the dome in an arbitrary direction, contrary to intuition.

Origin

Devised by John D. Norton in 2003.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Norton's dome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Norton's%20dome

MLA

“Norton's dome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Norton's%20dome. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Norton's dome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Norton's%20dome.

Source: Norton's dome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.