pyroelectricity

/,pairouilek'trisiti/

Thân thiện

A student observes pyroelectricity by warming a tourmaline crystal.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The generation of an electric charge in certain materials when their temperature changes: Pyroelectricity is a physical property of specific crystals and materials that causes them to produce a temporary electrical voltage or current when they are heated or cooled.

Usage

• Pyroelectricity is a scientific term used primarily in physics, materials science, and engineering. It describes a phenomenon, not an object or action.
• It is typically used in technical contexts, such as research papers, textbooks, and discussions about sensor technology.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The sensor operates based on the principle of pyroelectricity, detecting infrared radiation through temperature changes.
  • Pyroelectricity in tourmaline crystals was one of the earliest electrical phenomena observed by scientists.

Advanced Usage

• "Pyroelectric effect": This is a more specific term often used interchangeably with "pyroelectricity" to describe the phenomenon itself.
  • The pyroelectric effect is utilized in motion sensors and thermal imaging cameras.

Variants and Related Words

• Pyroelectric (adj): Relating to or exhibiting pyroelectricity.
  • Pyroelectric materials are key components in many infrared detectors.
• Pyroelectric crystal (n phrase): A specific crystal that exhibits the pyroelectric property.
  • Lithium tantalate is a common pyroelectric crystal used in detectors.

Synonyms

• Thermoelectricity: While related, this is a broader term that includes effects where a temperature difference creates an electric voltage (the Seebeck effect) and is not a perfect synonym for pyroelectricity, which specifically requires a change in temperature of the material itself.

Related Scientific Concepts

• Ferroelectricity: A property of certain materials that have a spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by an external electric field. Many ferroelectric materials are also pyroelectric.
• Piezoelectricity: The generation of an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress. Pyroelectric materials are a subset of piezoelectric materials.

Học thuật

Noun

1. generation of an electric charge on certain crystals (such as tourmaline) as a result of a change in temperature