![]() ![]() The more energy you need to supply to induce the mass migration of atoms – the stronger the material. A bunch of atoms escaping in some preferential direction is what we observe as material deformation. The fun part (well, fun for nerds like me) is that it doesn’t happen to just one atom, but to a whole bunch of them, wherever the stress field induced by the applied force is felt. When you exert force on a material, you force some of the neighbours to be further away from our potential atomic fugitive, making it more likely for the atom to sneak in the direction of those neighbours. ![]() The closer the neighbours – the more energy it takes to get past them. The ones that do escape have to overcome a temporary discomfort (or an increase in their potential energy, for those physically inclined) of getting close to their neighbours. You see, atoms are like a bunch of introverts: each is trying to escape from its neighbours, but doesn’t want to get near them. A lattice site is really just other atoms surrounding the one that is trying to escape. Some are more successful at it than others, making those materials more easily deformable. ![]() What are the physical reasons for these differences?įor Earth materials (rocks), the answer lies in the restless nature of their atoms: the little buggers constantly try to sneak out of their crystal lattice sites and relocate. Splashing around in the mud is more energy-consuming (and fun, but never mind that) than in the water, and splashing around in the block of concrete is energy-intensive bordering on deadly. Most of us have an intuitive understanding that different materials resist being moved, or deformed, to different degrees. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |