What is Material: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified based on their physical and chemical properties, or on their geological origin or biological function. Materials science is the study of materials and their applications.
Raw materials can be processed in different ways to influence their properties, by purification, shaping or the introduction of other materials. New materials can be produced from raw materials by synthesis.
In industry, materials are inputs to manufacturing processes to produce products or more complex materials.

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  1. ShayanJ

    Solenoid filled with magnetic material

    Consider a solenoid with length L and N turns of wire wound around it, filled with a rod of permeability \mu .I want to calculate the magnetic field it produces on a point P on its axis and outside it.The angle between the axis and the lines drawn from point P to a point on the nearest and...
  2. mesa

    Proper material for electrolytic cell?

    We are considering recovering the silver out of our waste fix solution from the photo labs on campus. What is the best (reasonably acquired) material (as in non-platinum) for the cathode/anode?
  3. T

    Heat insulating material near abs zero

    hi all, I was wondering if there is any industrial/common type of material (at around temperature of 3K) that can function as bolts/screws or thin sticks. This is to be used in a cryostat and ideally prevent any heat conduction from the material it is attached to during the process...
  4. K

    Are there any material that contact with water and expand?

    Are there any material that contact with water and expand? I can think of sodium polyacrylate, but I can't use it. Thanks.
  5. 2

    Magnetic attraction to ferromagnetic material

    Why do magnets attract ferromagnetic materials only? Why not other materials as well?
  6. paulmdrdo

    Valence and conduction bands in an n-type material

    can you explain why the trivalent impurities exert lower forces on the outer-shell electrons than the pentavalent impurities? and why The valence and conduction bands in an n-type material are at slightly lower energy levels than the valence and conduction bands in a p-type material?
  7. J

    Flow Chart of material to learn differential geometry

    I am a 3rd year mechanical engineering student at LSU, but my true interest lies in theoretical physics and mathematics (specifically general relativity and differential geometry). I've taken calculus 1,2,3, linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, number theory, discrete math, and...
  8. D

    Explosion force is dependent on the Amount and the said Material

    As I understand it; when an explosive material is set off, the force is dependent on the Amount and the said Material. As an example, I have 2cm3 of dynamite I set it off and once the appropriate "oo's and ahh's" are said I set up eight separate 1cm3 blocks of dynamite and set them up...
  9. kmm

    Charge within a cavity inside a conducting material

    Suppose I have a charge inside a conductor as shown in the image I've attached. For any charge distribution: \oint \mathbf{E} \cdot d \mathbf{a} = 0 I can see that if I took some path from the charge, through the conductor, and back to the charge, the integral would be zero still. Now, that...
  10. E

    Elastic Solids & Liquids at Low & Room Temperature

    Is there any materials that is elastically solid (ductile that can be shaped into thin wires) at low temperatures but liquid at room temperatures?
  11. H

    Alan Guth, Gravitationally repulsive material?

    Does anyone have any resources which explain the nature of Alan Guth's 'gravitationally repulsive material'? I would like to understand a basic explanation of how this material becomes a negative pressure at extremely high temperatures. I understand that this arises from GR and the standard...
  12. M

    How to ship catalytic material into the US

    Hi all, Have any of you ever sent materials such as catalysts overseas? Very much appreciated Marcio
  13. S

    Material properties of Heavy water

    Hello sir, I am new to this forum i am looking for thermophysical properties of heavy water for my computer simulation. following properties i found in the wed. can anyone suggest me that these considered properties are correct (ref temp 40 C and 6.549 kPa) density = 1099.99 Kg/m3 specific...
  14. I

    What affects heat transfer within a material?

    so I'm told that temperature difference is ultimately what results in heat transfer. But when considering what happens inside a uniform material, if temperature difference was solely responsible for heat transfer, then different heat transfer rates wouldn't exist among different materials at the...
  15. Crazymechanic

    Material explosion under pressure

    Now we knwo that materials tend to rapidly expand (explode) under given circumstances , like a wire subjected to sudden , rapid overcurrent or like a ball of hot flammable gas when heated or otherwise. Now I wonder what would happen if we had the ball of some heated rapidly expanding gas or...
  16. W

    Best learning material for intro to Linear Algebra?

    I'd post in the learning materials section but I am unable to do so there for some reason. Which of these is the best to learn from...
  17. nsaspook

    News Stolen radioactive material found.

    These guys made a stupid and 'fatal' mistake. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/stolen-cobalt-60-found-in-mexico-curious-thieves-likely-doomed/2013/12/05/262ef990-5d66-11e3-8d24-31c016b976b2_story.html
  18. J

    Backing material - useful tools at eeweb.com

    Backing material -- useful tools at eeweb.com Hellow! I'w like to divulgate this material that I searched... It's nice calculator (is possible to make download) http://www.eeweb.com/toolbox/calculator And some formulas http://www.eeweb.com/toolbox/math-help Do you have something...
  19. I

    Chemical Process Calculations, or Material Balances Question

    All of the related work is in the attachment. If you could please help it would be really appreciated. I've asked a bunch of people in my class, and they're confused also. Thanks in advance!
  20. O

    Ideal material for a parabolic reflector

    For microwave. Is it any insulator? Rubber will work?
  21. M

    Entering material science from an engineering background

    Hi! I know that material science lies at the interface of physics and chemistry and that any material scientist must have knowledge of chemistry, quantim mechanics, solid state physics,... The problem I face is that I am quite keen on entering material science with a mechanical engineering...
  22. Ascendant78

    How much of the material (formulas, etc.) do you need to memorize?

    I am just finishing up my first physics course this semester (as a physics major). Although there did seem to be a lot to soak up this semester, I didn't feel like it was too bad. I am just curious though, is there a resource that has a list or other type of reference material that shows you...
  23. A

    How does the speed of light determine the size of material bodies?

    I'm not talking about relativistic effects, just solid state physics. I'm wondering what determines the size of objects at the particle, atomic and molecular level, and especially how the constant c enters the equations? I suppose it depends from the strength of the molecular bonds which...
  24. A

    Heat Resistant Washers for BBQs: Material Info

    Hi, I am trying to find out what material heat resistant washers are on a BBQ. that material looks like fiberglass and seams to be-able to take high heat loads. Cheers
  25. A

    Can you skip some material in a physics book?

    There is a book that I would like to read "Electronics for scientists" but it has physics as a prerequisite and I will not be able to take a physics course till next year (I would just take the one at my high school but the teacher is not very good and I would rather start with a calculus based...
  26. S

    Highest MRR for Die Sinking EDM on Copper, Steel, Aluminum

    hi guys, which one of those material you think it should give highest material removal rate by using die sinking EDM. the tool is copper and workpiece are 1. copper 2. stainless steel 3. aluminum lets assume the same input parameters will be used for those three material thank you
  27. C

    What material is best to build a floating bicycle?

    Hello, I am looking on building my own water bike after finding out that they start around $1700 like the one pictured in this thread. What designs / materials can make this better? I would like to also have transparent floats rather then the original colors that you constantly see...
  28. T

    Material Science Engineering.What is it? Give me a good description.

    So at the college I'm in I'm a freshman Chemistry + (any) Engineering major (don't have to decide on what kind yet). I was set on going Chemistry + Biochemical engineering but when I went to my adviser he told me maybe think of becoming a Material Science Engineer. He said something along the...
  29. H

    How Does Light Change Direction and Speed in Different Materials?

    Everyone knows that if a light come in a material will change speed(will become less),and from wikipedia I read that light wants to go from his faster way. So when material 'eat' from light some speed,then light as more 'clever',goes from a sooner way.(that what we call "refraction."). So my...
  30. C

    Strongest transparent material

    Hello, I am a cycle enthusiast looking to create a shield for my bike in the form of a rain drop which is known to be the most aerodynamic shape. I am looking for a material that is TRANSPARENT (clear, one way mirror finish, or black), STRONG, DURABLE, FOLDABLE, EASY TO MOLD & SHAPE...
  31. F

    Material Science: Monovacancy Concentration

    Homework Statement The Monovacancy formation energy of a metal is 80 kJ/mol. Hence the monovacancy concentration (CV) at 25 degrees celsius is about: A)1.3x10^-13 B)9.5x10^-15 C).9 D)5x10^15 The Attempt at a Solution I know the answer is B but I don't know how to get to that. I...
  32. A

    How does one make sure that one had understood the material studied?

    I do not fully understand the process of understanding of a material one reads. Suppose someone reads a chapter from a physics book. How does one make sure that one has really understood what she/he had read? I must confess that at times I read from text and I even feel that I had understood the...
  33. M

    How Can I Simplify These Trigonometric Expressions?

    these are a couple more math problems I am having trouble with. if you can help me i would appreciate it. if you could just put the number of the problem your helping me with that would be great 1)simplify -3sin^(5)x - 3sin^(3)x cos^(2)x 2.)simplify 2cot^(2)x -3cotx - 9 / cot^(2)x - 9...
  34. M

    How Can I Solve These Precalculus Problems Involving Angles?

    Hello to all i am new to this thread and i have a precalculus exam tomorrow. I was going to post 4 or 5 example problems that i have and wanted to know if someone could explain to me how to get the answer step by step. I need to use these explanations as a help guide and as long as its step...
  35. M

    Understanding the Amplitude of -1/5 sin(2/3x - pi/2) | Study Material Available

    the amplitude of the function -1/5 sin(2/3x - pi/2) is equal to what? 1/5 i think can anybody help?
  36. H

    Material Engineering - Metal Forming & Welding

    Homework Statement Lightweight bicycle had been fabricated from aluminium alloy tubing, with joints made by adhesive bonding. When the frame fractured near one of the joints, the owner requested that a repair be made using conventional gas tungsten arc welding. Shortly thereafter, the frame...
  37. O

    Just out of curiosity - school material used in your job?

    Hello Physics Forum, I just wanted to hear from some experienced Electrical Engineers on how much of the material covered in school are actually used in a real job. I am currently a junior in EE and have heard mixed responses from my professors pertaining to the issue. To make it less broad...
  38. S

    Ansys maxwell 3d material library

    hi everybody. i just wonder. can we add new material library in ansys maxwell 3d(v.16) manually. especially magnets?
  39. wolram

    Best study material for old english

    Old English fascinates me but finding material on the net is difficult, anyone have an idea where to find Old English script?
  40. S

    Looking for a plastic/ceramic material USDA approved.

    I have been looking for hours tring to find a material with these properties. Working Temperature up to 500° F Low coefiecient of Friction Chemical Resistance to Costic Cleaners (mainly chlorinated) Coeffecient of Thermal Expansion around 9.5 μin/in°F decent machine ability made in 1/4"...
  41. A

    Would a square wave look like a sine passed through a material?

    Sorry for the wording of the topic- I couldn't figure out how to make it fit. If I passed a hypothetical square wave through a material- be it wood, glass, cotton, etc.- would it change to look more like a sine wave?
  42. M

    Is My Understanding of Material Derivative Correct?

    hey pf! can someone please tell me if my understanding of the material derivative operating over some scalar \rho is correct? basically, from my understanding if we take \frac{ D \rho}{D t} this will tell us how \rho changes as time changes AND how \rho changes as we move our little piece of...
  43. C

    Engineering Material and Chemical Engineering, which to choose?

    Hi everyone, I'm an a-level student (year 13) doing Physics, Chemistry and Maths. I am struggling of what university subject to apply for...I want to do a subject that is a combination of all three subjects I'm now doing. I like topics that I can go very very deep. I think quantum and...
  44. M

    Advice on material science/nanotechnology

    Hi, I have just completed my undergraduate studies in electrical engineering and looking for options in material science because I have a feeling that is the place where I can get the chance to invent anything if I will ever invent something. The thing is my knowledge is strictly electrical...
  45. J

    What Material absorbs shock better? Rubber or plastic?

    For example a phone in a case is dropped, would it suffer more in a plastic case or a rubber case? Thanks
  46. B

    Choosing a material for a mill handle

    Hello. MechE noob here. I'm an ECE guy and I'm apart of a group of students working on a solar car. I decided I wanted to get more mechanical experience so I joined one of the ME teams. However, before they let you work on real stuff they make you go through smaller projects. So my first...
  47. M

    Rank the material according to their indices of refraction

    Homework Statement In the figure below (see image in color), light travels from material 'a', through three layers of other materials with surfaces parallel to one another, and then back into another layer of material 'a'. The refractions (but not the associated reflections) at the surfaces...
  48. M

    Is there such a thing as computational Material Science?

    I was wondering because I'm interested in getting a Materials science graduate degree, but was wondering if my options would be limited to experimental work. What sort of work would comp. materials science involve? My rough guess would be creating models/simulations of materials as opposed to...
  49. D

    Questions on calculating material needed for lifting object

    I am trying to make a floating sentry bot ; though, my plan was to use Helium or with a mixture of Ammonia. I want to find the minimum amount of gas in a balloon require to reach the max height the object should float. I know the buoyancy force is Density * Volmin * g : where the maximum...
  50. D

    Calculate the dielectric constant of the material

    Homework Statement two point charges in free space are separated by distance d and exert a force 2.6 nN on each other. The force becomes 1.5 nN when the free space is replaced by a homogeneous dielectric material. Calculate the dielectric constant of the material. Homework Equations I...
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