vis inertiae

2 definitions found

vis inertiae - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Inertia \In*er"ti*a\, n. [L., idleness, fr. iners idle. See
     Inert.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Physics) That property of matter by which it tends when
        at rest to remain so, and when in motion to continue in
        motion, and in the same straight line or direction, unless
        acted on by some external force; -- sometimes called vis  inerti[ae]
        . The inertia of a body is proportional to its
        mass.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. Inertness; indisposition to motion, exertion, or action;
        lack of energy; sluggishness.
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              Men . . . have immense irresolution and inertia.
                                                    --Carlyle.
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     3. (Med.) Lack of activity; sluggishness; -- said especially
        of the uterus, when, in labor, its contractions have
        nearly or wholly ceased.
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     Center of inertia. (Mech.) See under Center.
        [1913 Webster]

  Vis \Vis\, n.
     1. Force; power.
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     2. (Law)
        (a) Physical force.
        (b) Moral power.
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     Principle of vis viva (Mech.), the principle that the
        difference between the aggregate work of the accelerating
        forces of a system and that of the retarding forces is
        equal to one half the vis viva accumulated or lost in the
        system while the work is being done.
  
     Vis impressa [L.] (Mech.), force exerted, as in moving a
        body, or changing the direction of its motion; impressed
        force.
  
     Vis inertiae. [L.]
        (a) The resistance of matter, as when a body at rest is
            set in motion, or a body in motion is brought to rest,
            or has its motion changed, either in direction or in
            velocity.
        (b) Inertness; inactivity.
  
     Note: Vis intertiae and inertia are not strictly synonymous.
           The former implies the resistance itself which is
           given, while the latter implies merely the property by
           which it is given.
  
     Vis mortua [L.] (Mech.), dead force; force doing no active
        work, but only producing pressure.
  
     Vis vitae, or Vis vitalis [L.] (Physiol.), vital force.
        
  
     Vis viva [L.] (Mech.), living force; the force of a body
        moving against resistance, or doing work, in distinction
        from vis mortua, or dead force; the kinetic energy of a
        moving body; the capacity of a moving body to do work by
        reason of its being in motion. See Kinetic energy, in
        the Note under Energy. The term vis viva is not usually
        understood to include that part of the kinetic energy of
        the body which is due to the vibrations of its molecules.
        [1913 Webster]