ALL meanings of activation energy
activation energy
A a - noun activation energy the least amount of energy required to activate atoms or molecules to a state in which they can undergo a chemical reaction. 1
- noun activation energy (chemistry, physics) The energy required to initiate a reaction. For example, the flame from the fuse of a firecracker provides a small initial amount of energy, after which the explosive reaction proceeds by itself, releasing a considerably larger quantity of energy. A small push given to a stable but top-heavy object may cause it to fall over; the potential energy released during the fall was present in the system all along but could not be realized as long as the object was upright and balanced. 0