Poynting-Robertson effect

[ poin-ting-rob-ert-suhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Astronomy.

the slowing down and consequent spiraling inward of small particles orbiting the sun, due to their interaction with solar radiation.

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1955–60; after English physicist John H. Poynting (1852–1914) and U.S. physicist Howard P. Robertson (1903–61)

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