THERMOELECTRICITY Meaning and
Definition
-
Thermoelectricity refers to the phenomenon of converting temperature differences into electrical voltage or vice versa, based on the principles of thermoelectric effects. It is a branch of physics that studies the relationship between temperature gradients and electrical currents in conductive materials.
The thermoelectric effect is the main mechanism behind thermoelectricity. The effect occurs due to the interaction between heat flow and electric current within a solid material. Specifically, when there is a temperature difference between two points in a conductor, it leads to the migration of charge carriers, such as electrons or holes, from the hot region to the cold region, thereby generating an electric current. This is known as the Seebeck effect.
The Seebeck effect enables the generation of thermoelectric power devices known as thermoelectric generators, which convert waste heat into useful electrical power. These generators have various applications, including waste heat recovery in industrial processes and powering portable electronics.
On the other hand, thermoelectric cooling exploits the Peltier effect, which is the reverse of the Seebeck effect. The Peltier effect is used in thermoelectric coolers or refrigerators to create a temperature difference when an electric current passes through a junction between two dissimilar conductive materials.
Thermoelectric materials play a crucial role in enabling efficient thermoelectric devices. These materials possess unique properties, such as high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity, that allow for efficient energy conversion. Ongoing research focuses on developing better thermoelectric materials to improve the performance and efficiency of thermoelectric devices and expand their potential applications in energy harvesting, heating, cooling, and waste management.
-
An electrical current generated in a circuit of two or more metallic substances, such as antimony and bismuth, when the junction of the two is heated.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for THERMOELECTRICITY
- rhermoelectricity
- fhermoelectricity
- ghermoelectricity
- yhermoelectricity
- 6hermoelectricity
- 5hermoelectricity
- tgermoelectricity
- tbermoelectricity
- tnermoelectricity
- tjermoelectricity
- tuermoelectricity
- tyermoelectricity
- thwrmoelectricity
- thsrmoelectricity
- thdrmoelectricity
- thrrmoelectricity
- th4rmoelectricity
- th3rmoelectricity
- theemoelectricity
Etymology of THERMOELECTRICITY
The word "thermoelectricity" is derived from the combination of two root words: "thermo-" and "electricity".
- The prefix "thermo-" comes from the Greek word "thermos", meaning "heat" or "hot". This prefix is commonly used in scientific terms related to heat or temperature, such as "thermometer" or "thermosphere".
- The term "electricity" originated from the Latin word "electricus", which was derived from the Greek word "ēlektron". "Ēlektron" referred to amber, a material capable of generating static electricity when rubbed. Over time, the word "electricus" came to be associated with the general concept of electricity.
When these two root words are combined, "thermoelectricity" refers to the generation or conversion of electric current by the action of heat.
Similar spelling words for THERMOELECTRICITY
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
