A phase diagram is a graphical representation that shows the phases of a substance (solid, liquid, gas) as a function of temperature and pressure. It illustrates the conditions under which distinct phases occur and coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. Key features of a typical phase diagram include: 1. **Axes**: The horizontal axis usually represents temperature, while the vertical axis represents pressure. 2. **Phase Regions**: Different areas or regions on the diagram represent different states of matter.
Polyelectrolyte adsorption refers to the process by which polyelectrolytes—charged polymer chains—attach themselves to surfaces or interfaces, such as solid materials, colloids, or membranes. This phenomenon is important in various fields, including materials science, biochemistry, environmental science, and pharmaceuticals. ### Key Concepts: 1. **Polyelectrolytes**: These are polymeric molecules that carry charged groups (either positive or negative) along their backbone.
"Polymer" can refer to a couple of different concepts depending on the context: 1. **In Chemistry**: A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units known as monomers, which are connected by covalent chemical bonds. Polymers can be natural (like proteins, nucleic acids, and cellulose) or synthetic (like plastics such as polyethylene and nylon). They have diverse properties and applications, ranging from flexible materials to rigid structures, depending on their chemical composition and structure.
Quantum materials are materials that exhibit unique properties and behaviors due to quantum mechanical effects. These materials often display phenomena that cannot be explained by classical physics and typically showcase characteristics such as: 1. **Superconductivity**: Certain materials can conduct electricity without resistance at low temperatures. This property arises due to the formation of Cooper pairs of electrons that move coherently through the lattice structure of the material.
The Rosiwal scale, also known as the Rosiwal scale for measuring the degree of thermal comfort, is a tool used primarily in fields like architecture, urban planning, and environmental design. This scale evaluates how physical environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation, affect human comfort levels in a given space.
Self-healing materials are innovative materials designed to automatically repair themselves after damage, enhancing their lifespan and performance. These materials mimic natural healing processes found in biological systems and can recover from mechanical damage, such as scratches, cracks, and other forms of wear. The mechanisms by which self-healing occurs can vary, but they typically fall into two main categories: 1. **Intrinsic Self-healing**: These materials contain healing agents embedded within their structure.
Vapor polishing is a technique used to enhance the surface finish of certain materials, most commonly thermoplastics such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), also known as acrylic. The process involves exposing the material to a solvent vapor that interacts with the surface layer of the plastic, effectively melting and smoothing it. Here’s how vapor polishing typically works: 1. **Preparation**: The plastic part to be polished is cleaned to remove any contaminants that may affect the polishing process.
A dynamometer is a device designed to measure force, torque, or power. It can be used in various applications, including automotive testing, manufacturing, and research, to evaluate the performance of engines, motors, and other machinery. There are two main types of dynamometers: 1. **Engine Dynamometer**: This is used to test an engine's output power, torque, and efficiency by connecting it directly to the engine's crankshaft.
Mechanical standards refer to a set of established criteria, guidelines, or specifications that govern the design, performance, and testing of mechanical components, systems, and processes. These standards ensure safety, reliability, and compatibility in mechanical engineering and manufacturing. They may cover various aspects, including materials, manufacturing processes, dimensions, tolerances, and performance characteristics.
An air handler, or air handling unit (AHU), is a critical component of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Its primary function is to circulate and manage the air within a building. Here are some key features and functions of an air handler: 1. **Air Circulation**: Air handlers draw in return air from inside the building, condition it (heating or cooling), and then distribute it through ductwork to various rooms.
Axial fan design refers to the engineering and configuration of fans that move air along the axis of the fan's rotational blades. These fans are characterized by a blade formation that directs airflow parallel to the axis of rotation, making them particularly effective for applications requiring high flow rates at relatively low pressure. ### Key Characteristics of Axial Fans 1. **Blade Design**: - Axial fans typically have several blades, which can be shaped differently (e.g.
Bearing pressure, also known as bearing capacity or soil bearing pressure, refers to the pressure that a foundation or structural element exerts on the soil or subgrade below it. It is a critical factor in civil and geotechnical engineering, as it determines how much load a foundation can safely support without causing excessive settlement or failure of the underlying soil. ### Key Points about Bearing Pressure: 1. **Definition**: Bearing pressure is the load per unit area that is transmitted from a foundation to the soil.
Deep hole drilling (DHD) measurement technique refers to a specialized method used for drilling deep holes into various materials, typically metals, composites, or ceramics. This technique is particularly important in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing, where deep and precise holes are required for components or assemblies.
The history of mechanical engineering dates back thousands of years and is intertwined with the development of technology and manufacturing. Here's an overview of its evolution through key periods: ### Ancient Mechanics **1. Ancient Civilizations (c. 3000 BCE - 500 CE)** - **Early Tools:** The earliest mechanical devices, such as the lever, pulley, and wheel, were developed in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other early civilizations. - **Archimedes (c.
A "kludge" refers to a workaround or a makeshift solution to a problem, often involving a haphazard assortment of components or techniques that may not operate well together but are put together for functionality. The term is commonly used in technology and engineering to describe a solution that, while effective in the short term, may be inelegant or overly complicated.
A longeron is a structural component commonly found in aircraft and some types of vehicles. It serves as a primary longitudinal member of the airframe or structure, providing strength and rigidity. Longerons are typically used in conjunction with other structural elements, such as frames, to create a strong and lightweight design. In aircraft, longerons are often found in the fuselage, where they run parallel to the aircraft's length. They help distribute loads and contribute to the overall structural integrity of the aircraft.
A slip joint is a type of mechanical joint or connection that allows for some degree of movement between two components while maintaining a connection between them. Slip joints are commonly used in various applications, including construction, plumbing, automotive and machinery, and they can accommodate changes in length, alignment, or position without losing functionality.
Metalworking is a broad term that encompasses a variety of processes and techniques used to shape, fabricate, and manipulate metal materials into usable products or components. It involves the application of different methods to cut, form, join, and finish metals to achieve desired specifications. Metalworking can include both manual and automated processes and is fundamental to various industries, including automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, construction, and metal art.
Permissible Stress Design (PSD), also known as Allowable Stress Design (ASD), is a method used in structural engineering to ensure that a structure can safely support the loads and forces it will encounter during its life. The underlying principle of PSD is to limit the stresses in materials to safe levels, which are determined based on material properties, safety factors, and design codes.
A pulverizer is a type of machine that is used to crush, grind, or powder solid materials into smaller particles. Pulverizers are commonly used in various industries, including mining, construction, and manufacturing, to prepare raw materials for further processing or to improve their properties for specific applications. There are several types of pulverizers, including: 1. **Mechanical Pulverizers**: These rely on mechanical force to crush and grind materials. They can include hammer mills, ball mills, and roller mills.
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





