attractive force

/əˌtræktɪv fɔrs/

Other forms: attractive forces

Definitions of attractive force

1. noun

   the force by which one object attracts another
   synonyms: attraction

   types:

   affinity

   (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody

   bond, chemical bond

   an electrical force linking atoms

   gravitation, gravitational attraction, gravitational force, gravity

   (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

   magnetic attraction, magnetic force, magnetism

   attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by fields of force

   van der Waal's forces

   relatively weak attraction between neutral atoms and molecules arising from polarization induced in each particle by the presence of other particles

   covalent bond

   a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

   cross-link, cross-linkage

   a side bond that links two adjacent chains of atoms in a complex molecule

   hydrogen bond

   a chemical bond consisting of a hydrogen atom between two electronegative atoms (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) with one side be a covalent bond and the other being an ionic bond

   electrostatic bond, electrovalent bond, ionic bond

   a chemical bond in which one atom loses an electron to form a positive ion and the other atom gains an electron to form a negative ion

   metallic bond

   a chemical bond in which electrons are shared over many nuclei and electronic conduction occurs

   peptide bond, peptide linkage

   the primary linkage of all protein structures; the chemical bond between the carboxyl groups and amino groups that unites a peptide

   solar gravity

   the gravity of the sun

   electromagnetism

   magnetism produced by an electric current

   antiferromagnetism

   magnetic field creates parallel but opposing spins; varies with temperature

   diamagnetism

   phenomenon exhibited by materials like copper or bismuth that become magnetized in a magnetic field with a polarity opposite to the magnetic force; unlike iron they are slightly repelled by a magnet

   ferromagnetism

   phenomenon exhibited by materials like iron (nickel or cobalt) that become magnetized in a magnetic field and retain their magnetism when the field is removed

   paramagnetism

   materials like aluminum or platinum become magnetized in a magnetic field but it disappears when the field is removed

   type of:

   force

   (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity