Word.ws English Dictionary

Earnshaw's theorem

Earnshaw's theorem proper noun: a theorem stating that a collection of point charges cannot be maintained in a stable stationary equilibrium configuration solely by the electrostatic interaction of the charges.

Proper noun

Earnshaw's theorem

  1. A theorem stating that a collection of point charges cannot be maintained in a stable stationary equilibrium configuration solely by the electrostatic interaction of the charges.

Origin of Earnshaw's theorem

First proven by British mathematician Samuel Earnshaw in 1842.

Questions about Earnshaw's theorem

What does Earnshaw's theorem mean?
Earnshaw's theorem means a theorem stating that a collection of point charges cannot be maintained in a stable stationary equilibrium configuration solely by the electrostatic interaction of the charges.
What part of speech is Earnshaw's theorem?
Earnshaw's theorem is a proper noun.

Words near Earnshaw's theorem in the dictionary

  1. earns one's spurs
  2. earns one's stripes
  3. earns one's wings
  4. earns out
  5. Earnshaw
  6. Earnshaw's theorem
  7. Earnshaws
  8. earnt
  9. earnt a crust
  10. earnt one's corn
  11. earnt one's crust

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: Earnshaw's theorem (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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