"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Physics
Recrystallization (Materials Science)
04/27/26
“How can we reset a metal’s crystalline structure by working it while hot?”
A metal’s crystalline structure contains more defects when it undergoes cold working. However, if we work on a metal while it’s heated, the metal will soften, and new strain-free grains will arise and envelop the entire structure. This Recrystallization process ends with the metal becoming more ductile but less strong and harder.
Langmuir Isotherms
04/24/26
“How can we model how adsorption potential changes as adsorption potential fills up?”
Substances will stick to the surface of another through adsorption. The more sites that are filled up, the less adsorption potential there will be until it’s completely maxed out. This is how Langmuir Isotherms work.
Sorption Isotherms
04/23/26
“How can we graphically represent the relationship between a substance’s concentration and an adsorbent’s ability to adsorb the substance?”
Adsorbents of different materials interact with different chemical differently. Sometimes their adsorption strength decreases with increasing concentration, sometimes it grows, and sometimes it stays the same. We can plot the relationship between substance concentration and adsorption strength on a Sorption Isotherms.
ALARA/ALARP Principles
04/22/26
“How can we take a practical, secure approach to environmental safety in organizational operations?”
Environmental safety in organizational operations can vary drastically, ranging from simple catch-basin cleanup to nuclear remediation. While we can’t completely remove risk, we can heavily reduce to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA, reduce it as much as you can achieve, such as going beyond basic care in heavy radiation settings) or as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP, reduce risk to as low as whatever fits guidelines/standards and is cost-benefit optimal). These ALARA/ALARP Principles are fundamental to creating a safe place for everyone.
Galvanic Series
04/13/26
“Is there a list that sorts how likely a metal is to corrode?”
Two metals with significant enough anodic index differences will corrode. But is there a list that sorts metals based on their anodic index differences? Well, this comes in the form of the Galvanic Series. The lower on the list, the more protected against corrosion a specific metal is, and the higher the more vulnerable to corrosion.
When To Use Enthalpy Values for Heat Calculations
04/11/26
“When should we use enthalpy values for heat calculations?”
People like you and me can calculate the heat transfer between two substances in a variety of ways. When we’re faced with constant-pressure processes, phase changes, chemical reactions, or in flow volumes, we can use the change in enthalpy values for calculating heat transfer. This is When To Use Enthalpy Values for Heat Calculations.
When To Use Internal Energy Values for Heat Calculations
04/10/26
“When should we use internal energy values for heat calculations?”
People like you and me can calculate the heat transfer between two substances in a variety of ways. When we’re faced with constant volume processes, closed systems (no mass flow), bomb calorimetry, and non-constant pressure systems, we can use the change in internal energy values for calculating heat transfer. This is When To Use Internal Energy Values for Heat Calculations.
Flamability Range
04/07/26
“How is there a range of flammability in vaporous concentrations?”
Certain vaporous substances can cause combustion. However, these will need to be present in a certain Flamability Range above a minimum value and below a maximum. Safety regulations may require buildings to implement measures to reduce substances below the flammability range.
Anodic Index
04/05/26
“How can we quantify an element’s strength against corrosion?”
Two metals in contact with each other can start a corrosion reaction if the metals are electrochemically dissimilar. Each metal will have a certain tendency to give or receive electrons in a galvanic reaction, quantified by the Anodic Index. Anodic indices are typically measured from a reference metal, such as gold. The larger an element’s anodic index is, the more likely it is to become an anode and corrode.
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