Word.ws English Dictionary

scallop theorem

scallop theorem proper noun: a theorem which states that to achieve propulsion at low Reynolds number in simple (i.e. Newtonian) fluids, a swimmer must deform in a way that is not invariant under time-reversal.

Proper noun

the scallop theorem

  1. A theorem which states that to achieve propulsion at low Reynolds number in simple (i.e. Newtonian) fluids, a swimmer must deform in a way that is not invariant under time-reversal.

Origin of scallop theorem

From an explanation of a principle of fluid dynamics given by E. M. Purcell, referring to the opening and closing motion of a scallop's hinge.

Questions about scallop theorem

What does scallop theorem mean?
Scallop theorem means a theorem which states that to achieve propulsion at low Reynolds number in simple (i.e. Newtonian) fluids, a swimmer must deform in a way that is not invariant under time-reversal.
What part of speech is scallop theorem?
Scallop theorem is a proper noun.

Words near scallop theorem in the dictionary

  1. scallop
  2. scallop moth
  3. scallop moths
  4. scallop shell
  5. scallop squash
  6. scallop theorem
  7. scalloped
  8. scalloped oyster
  9. scalloped oysters
  10. scalloped sack-bearer
  11. scalloped sack-bearers

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: scallop 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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