Atwood

Atwood is a surname of English origin and a place name used in various parts of the English-speaking world. It appears in geography as the name of towns or communities and in science through the Atwood machine.

In physics, the Atwood machine is a simple device consisting of two unequal masses connected by a string that passes over a pulley; when released, the heavier mass accelerates downward and the lighter mass rises. The arrangement, named after English physicist George Atwood, demonstrates the principles of tension, gravity, and Newton’s laws of motion.

Notable individuals with the surname include Margaret Atwood (born 1939), a Canadian author and poet whose novels The Handmaid’s Tale and The Blind Assassin have achieved widespread recognition and influence.

There are several places named Atwood, including towns and communities in North America.