Distribution Function

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Distribution Function

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The density function or number of particles per unit volume of phase space. The distribution function is a function of the three space coordinates and the three velocity coordinates. </dd>
A point in phase space represents a given position in ordinary space and a given velocity in velocity space. Therefore, the distribution function evaluated at such a point is the number or average density of particles per cubic length and cubic velocity that have the position and the velocity which is represented by the point. Distribution function represents the average density over a reasonably long time, or the most probable distribution of particles at a particular time. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use