How Do You Spell FERROELECTRIC?

Pronunciation: [fˌɛɹə͡ʊlˈɛktɹɪk] (IPA)

The word "ferroelectric" is spelled as follows: [ˌfɛr.o.ɪˈlɛk.trɪk]. The first syllable, "ferro", is pronounced with a schwa sound in the first letter, followed by the "r" and "o" being pronounced as separate syllables. The second syllable "electric" is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, and with the "e" pronounced as a long "ee" sound. The word refers to a material that has a permanent electric polarization in the absence of an external electric field.

FERROELECTRIC Meaning and Definition

1. Ferroelectric, from the Greek words ferro (meaning iron) and electric, refers to a unique property exhibited by some materials that allows them to possess a spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by the application of an external electric field.

   In simpler terms, ferroelectric materials are substances that can develop a net electric charge when subjected to an electric field or pressure, and this charge remains even after the field or pressure is removed. This characteristic distinguishes ferroelectric materials from typical dielectric materials, which do not retain any polarization after the external stimulus is gone.

   Ferroelectricity is typically observed in certain crystal structures, where the arrangement of atoms gives rise to a dipole moment at a molecular level, causing the material to become polarized. This phenomenon can be harnessed for various technological applications, such as memory devices, sensors, actuators, and even ultrasound transducers.

   Because of their ability to switch polarization, ferroelectric materials find use in non-volatile memory storage, where the electrical polarization represents a binary information state. Additionally, they can be utilized in sensors that detect changes in temperature, pressure, or strain. Ferroelectric compounds have also found applications in energy harvesting, piezoelectric devices, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), among others.

   Understanding and exploiting ferroelectricity has led to advancements in various industries, making it an essential field of study and research in materials science and condensed matter physics.

Etymology of FERROELECTRIC

The word ferroelectric comes from the combination of two root words: ferro, derived from the Latin word ferrum meaning iron, and electric, derived from the Latin word electricus meaning like amber. Ferro refers to the iron-like behavior, whereas electric refers to the ability to generate a voltage or electric charge. Therefore, ferroelectric essentially means iron-like electric or electric behavior similar to that of iron.

Plural form of FERROELECTRIC is FERROELECTRICS