Equivalent spherical diameter

In science, the equivalent spherical diameter (or ESD) of an irregularly shaped object is the diameter of a sphere of equivalent volume.

According to the IUPAC definition, the equivalent diameter of a non-spherical particle is equal to a diameter of a spherical particle that exhibits identical properties (e.g., aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, optical, electrical) to that of the investigated non-spherical particle. For particles in non-turbulent motion, the equivalent diameter is identical to the diameter encountered in the Stokes' law.