Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is a non-crystalline form of silicon. Unlike crystalline silicon, which has a well-defined and ordered atomic structure, amorphous silicon lacks long-range order, meaning its atomic arrangement is more random and disordered. This results in a variety of unique properties and advantages, making it useful in several applications.
Amorphous ice is a form of ice that lacks a well-defined crystalline structure, distinguishing it from the more common crystalline ice that forms in a regular arrangement of water molecules. Instead, amorphous ice has a disordered arrangement, which means the molecules are organized in a way that does not repeat periodically.
Amorphous carbonia, often referred to simply as "amorphous carbon," is a form of carbon that lacks a well-defined crystalline structure. Unlike crystalline carbon forms, such as diamond or graphite, which have ordered atomic arrangements, amorphous carbon has a disordered arrangement of carbon atoms. This gives it unique properties, including varying electrical conductivity and mechanical strength.
Amber is a fossilized tree resin that has been appreciated for its beauty and durability for millions of years. It often features a warm, yellow to orange-brown coloration, although it can come in other hues as well, including green, blue, and even white. Amber is notable for sometimes containing inclusions of prehistoric organisms, such as insects, spiders, and plant material, which were trapped in the resin before it hardened.
Allotropes are different forms of the same element that exist in the same physical state but have different structures and properties. Sulfur is known to have several allotropes, with the most common being: 1. **Rhombic Sulfur (α-sulfur)**: This is the most stable form of sulfur at room temperature and is composed of a crystalline structure with an orthorhombic symmetry. It appears as yellow crystals and is often the form encountered in everyday life.
Resins are complex organic compounds that are typically produced by trees, plants, and some insects. They are usually viscous liquids or semi-solid substances that can harden upon exposure to air or heat. Resins are often classified into two main categories: 1. **Natural Resins**: These are produced by plants and trees as a protective mechanism against injury or disease.
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made from polymers, which are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These materials are typically derived from petrochemicals and can exhibit a variety of properties depending on their composition and how they are processed. ### Categories of Plastics: 1. **Thermoplastics**: These plastics can be melted and reformed multiple times without significant chemical change.
Kauri gum is a natural resin obtained from the kauri tree (Agathis australis), which is native to New Zealand. The gum is formed when the tree's bark is damaged or when it is under stress, causing resin to seep out and eventually harden over time. Kauri gum can be found in various forms, ranging from small droplets to larger chunks.
Asphalt is a sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is primarily composed of hydrocarbons and is often used in road construction and maintenance. Asphalt is commonly known for its use in the following contexts: 1. **Paving Material**: Asphalt is widely used as a binder in asphalt concrete for paving roads, driveways, and parking lots. Its properties allow for a durable surface that can withstand heavy traffic and various weather conditions.
Amorphous metals, also known as metallic glasses, are a class of materials that lack a long-range periodic atomic arrangement, which is characteristic of crystalline metals. Instead, their atomic structure is disordered, resembling that of liquids. This lack of crystallinity gives amorphous metals unique physical properties, such as high strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent magnetic properties.
Yung-su Tsai is a prominent figure known for his contributions to the field of polymer science and engineering. He is particularly recognized for his research on the physical properties of polymers, including their behavior under various conditions. Tsai has published numerous papers and has been involved in various academic and professional activities related to materials science.
Yoseph Bar-Cohen is a prominent researcher and expert in the field of robotics and biomimetics. He is affiliated with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and is known for his work on soft robotics, haptic technology, and the development of robotic systems that can mimic biological organisms. Bar-Cohen has contributed to various projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing robotic capabilities and improving interactions between humans and machines.
Winthrop W. Smith may refer to a specific individual or a concept associated with that name, but without additional context, it's difficult to provide an accurate answer. There could be multiple individuals named Winthrop W. Smith, including historical figures, academics, or professionals in various fields. If you have a specific context in mind, such as a particular industry, event, or accomplishment related to Winthrop W.
Willy Haeberli might refer to a notable figure, often associated with academic or professional fields. However, there isn’t broadly recognized or widely available information on a prominent individual named Willy Haeberli in public knowledge as of my last training cut-off in October 2021. It’s possible he may be a specialist in a particular discipline, a local figure, or a name that has gained significance after that date.
William Wootters is an American physicist known for his contributions to the fields of quantum information theory and quantum mechanics. He is particularly recognized for his work on the concept of quantum entanglement and the theoretical aspects of quantum computation. One of his most notable contributions is the development of the Wootters theory regarding the measurement of qubits and the concept of entanglement measures, such as the "Wootters' concurrence," which helps quantify the degree of entanglement between quantum states.
William Wilson is a name that may refer to multiple individuals, but in the context of physics, William I. Wilson is a noted physicist known for his contributions to the field. He has done significant work in various areas of physics, including condensed matter physics and materials science. His research may involve aspects like the study of magnetism, superconductivity, or other phenomena related to solid-state physics.
William T. Silfvast is a notable figure in the field of optics and laser technology, particularly known for his contributions to the development of laser systems and his academic work. He is also known for authoring the book "Laser Fundamentals," which serves as a comprehensive resource on the principles and applications of lasers. In addition to his scholarly work, Silfvast has been involved in various research projects and has contributed to the advancement of laser science.
William Skocpol is an American sociologist and political scientist best known for his work in the fields of social theory, comparative politics, and social movements. Born in 1947, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of state structures, civic engagement, and the dynamics of social revolutions. Skocpol is particularly renowned for his book "States and Social Revolutions: A Comparative Analysis of France, Russia, and China," published in 1979.
William Morris Kinnersley (1860-1928) was an American architect known for his work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was active primarily in the Pacific Northwest and is recognized for his contributions to various architectural styles, including the Arts and Crafts movement. His designs emphasized craftsmanship, simplicity, and the integration of buildings with their surroundings. In addition to his architectural work, Kinnersley has also been associated with several notable projects and buildings.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





