Pyroelectricity=Peltier-Seebeck effect?

Mk

Are pyroelectricity and the peltier-seebeck effect the same thing?

FredGarvin

They are close, but not really the same. While both rely on a temperature differential to create a potential differential in a substance, Pyroelectricity deals with a single substance. Seebeck and Peltier showed that with two dissimilar metals, a temperature difference at the junction of the metals produced a voltage (Seebeck) and vice versa (Peltier).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroelectricity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peltier-Seebeck_effect

Gonzolo

Those links are great, but if you want short and sweet :

Seebeck effect : V is a function of dT/dx, and happens in regular conductors.

Pyroelectricity : V is a function of dT/dt, and only happens with certain ionic crystals.