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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. nimble
    moving quickly and lightly
    The key to the gecko’s nimble footwork are millions of tiny hairs, called setae, on the pads of its feet.
  2. mechanical
    relating to the motion of bodies
    These miniscule hairs work to hold the gecko on a surface through a mechanical approach, rather than by producing a gluey substance as you might think.
  3. neutral
    having no net electric charge
    Van der Waals forces refer to three types of attractive forces that can exist between neutral molecules: dipole–dipole forces, hydrogen bonding, and London dispersion forces.
  4. dispersion
    the act of diffusing something
    Van der Waals forces refer to three types of attractive forces that can exist between neutral molecules: dipole–dipole forces, hydrogen bonding, and London dispersion forces.
  5. immense
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    Because there are so many setae and spatulae, the total area of the gecko’s foot in contact with the surface that it’s climbing can be immense.
  6. agile
    moving quickly and lightly
    The type of van der Waals force used by the agile gecko is London dispersion.
  7. distribution
    the property of being scattered about over a range or area
    London dispersion forces occur because, at any given moment, a molecule will have an uneven distribution of electron density.
  8. electron
    an elementary particle with negative charge
    London dispersion forces occur because, at any given moment, a molecule will have an uneven distribution of electron density.
  9. density
    the amount per unit size
    London dispersion forces occur because, at any given moment, a molecule will have an uneven distribution of electron density.
  10. induce
    produce current by electrostatic or magnetic processes
    One dipole induces another, and another, and so on...but only for a moment.
Created on Tue May 19 13:52:35 EDT 2020 (updated Tue May 19 15:20:40 EDT 2020)

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