PYROELECTRIC Meaning and
Definition
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Pyroelectric (adjective):
Having the property or capability to generate an electric charge or voltage when subjected to changes in temperature. The word "pyroelectric" is derived from the Greek term "pyr" meaning fire and the English word "electric," representing the inherent ability to generate electricity due to temperature variations.
A material that exhibits pyroelectricity can accumulate a charge when exposed to a change in temperature or thermal gradient. This phenomenon occurs due to the reorientation of electric dipoles within the crystal lattice of the material. When the temperature changes, the molecules within the material move, resulting in a shift of the polarized charges, thus creating an electric potential.
Pyroelectric materials are often used in various applications, particularly in sensors, detectors, and energy harvesting devices. Their ability to convert thermal energy into electrical energy makes them suitable for infrared detectors, motion sensors, and thermal imaging devices. By taking advantage of the pyroelectric effect, these materials can detect changes in thermal radiation and convert them into an electrical signal for analysis or control.
Moreover, pyroelectric materials have also found use in energy harvesting technologies, where they can potentially convert waste heat into usable electrical energy. This property has implications in fields such as sustainable energy production and efficient heat management systems.
Overall, the term "pyroelectric" describes the intrinsic quality of a material to generate an electric charge or voltage in response to thermal changes, opening up possibilities for a range of applications in energy harvesting, sensing, and detection technology.
Common Misspellings for PYROELECTRIC
- oyroelectric
- lyroelectric
- -yroelectric
- 0yroelectric
- ptroelectric
- pgroelectric
- phroelectric
- puroelectric
- p7roelectric
- p6roelectric
- pyeoelectric
- pydoelectric
- pyfoelectric
- pytoelectric
- py5oelectric
- py4oelectric
- pyrielectric
- pyrkelectric
- pyrlelectric
Etymology of PYROELECTRIC
The word "pyroelectric" has its origins in the combination of two Greek words: "pyr" (meaning "fire") and "electric" (meaning "amber" or "amber-like substance"). The term was coined in the early 19th century to describe the phenomenon observed in certain materials that generate an electric charge when heated or cooled. This property was first observed in tourmaline crystals by the French physicist and mathematician Pierre Curie in 1880, and the term "pyroelectricity" was later established to describe this unique behavior.
Similar spelling words for PYROELECTRIC
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