What is Materials: Definition and 980 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. L

    MHB Garden Materials Calculator: Calculate Area & More

    I have tried this a couple of times but no successBefore you buy materials, you need to work out how much you will need. As such, you need to calculate the following: the circumference of the pond -A the perimeter of the garden the patio area -b the lawn area (minus pond area) the pond area- a...
  2. hugo_faurand

    New materials and ways to store electric energy

    Hello everyone ! I'm Hugo. I'm a french high school student. This year I've a project on new way to store electricity and their materials.I've done researches on super capacitors. But I've found only that "new way" to store electric energy. And for the material part, I don't know what I can...
  3. S

    How is thermochromatic rainbow paint made?

    I'm curious how thermochromatic paint is made that has many changing colors corresponding to different temperatures? Read that liquid crystals are used but they same as in LCD displays or it's somekind another chemical?
  4. K

    Could heating stainless steel release any harmful materials?

    Today, I turned on an electric kettle for heating up some water, then I going to did something else. Since the cover of the kettle was lost, it didn't automatically stop when boils, and I forgot to turn off the kettle when boiled, then all the water vaporized at last and the kettle stopped...
  5. S

    Best anode materials for water-based hydrogen generator?

    I want also to build electrolysis based hydrogen generator or and water oxygenator/aerator. It's simple electrolysis device but requires special electrodes that are corrosion resistant or at least safe for human consumption. I seen that hydrogen bottles use platinum titanium electrodes. Platinum...
  6. S

    I What Determines Whether Radiation Passes Through Materials?

    I've read that nuclear waste is stored in Olympic-sized swimming pools, but what is it about water that so effectively stops radiation? And apparently, this shielding effect of water is so powerful that one could literally stand right next to the pool (and according to some things I've read...
  7. A

    Timoshenko, Strength of materials example solution

    Hi everyone, I am new here, so please be kind if I make mistakes on this forum, I will try to learn fast. I need help in explaining the solution of one of the examples from Timoshenko's Strength of Materials book. The solution is provided in the book, but I did not get it, no matter at which...
  8. H

    Engineering Suggest a good book on the theory of elasticity & structures

    I am 2nd year physics undergrad. Just want to study a bit about materials in my free time. I have no idea about engineering books. Please suggest some good books. Thanks.
  9. G

    Misc. Exploring Materials Engineering with DIY Test Machine & Arduino

    Hello there. I'm a veteran science teacher at the middle and high school level. I've taught a few years of physics and am interested in moving towards engineering. I have looked at a number of available curricula like Project Lead the Way which require a significant investment in time and money...
  10. N

    Programs Applied Physics or Physics of Materials?

    Hello, My university is offering a couple of programs in Physics: Applied, Astro, Computational, and Material. So far, I liked Material and Applied in terms of getting early job opportunities. What advise do you guys have for me, before I make my mind for any of them? Thank you!
  11. J

    Materials that allow IR or UV light to pass through?

    Glass allows visible light to pass through I would like to find a list of materials that allows lights of different EM spectrum to pass through, not just the above, Searched throughout google, couldn't find any!.
  12. T

    Describe the methods of classifying polymeric materials

    Homework Statement Can anyone advise if this is a satisfactory answer. I've had a run over it and it does seem rather bulky for the given question. The Attempt at a Solution Commercial and marketing: Polymers can be classified in a variety of different ways. The commercial market are...
  13. G

    Programs Materials Science (B.Sc.) vs Materials Engineering (B.Eng)

    Hello, Looking for some guidance for my son. He will be a senior in high school in the fall and will be applying to university programs in Ontario, Canada. He is leaning towards studying chemistry and/or physics. We (his parents) absolutely want him to follow his passions, but of course are...
  14. Hamza Elkotfi

    A What resources are available for using DFT to study 1D materials in physics?

    hello dear physicists I will work in my thesis on 1D materials using DFT as a numerical method to find the properietes of these 1D materials I would be very happy if someone can help me with references (books, links, articles, vedios ...) that could help me to advance in my work Thank you
  15. PCal

    Materials selection and manufacture of a bracket

    Hi I'm on to the last question for my HNC and having a nightmare trying to work out my best options! Any help would be greatly appreciated! The bracket show in figure 1 is to be used to mount an outboard motor onto the transom of a boat. a. suggest two appropriate materials which will require...
  16. Dor

    I What should be continuous at the interface of two materials?

    At the interface between: 1) conductor/conductor 2) conductor/semiconductor (or dielectric) 3) semiconductor/semiconductor (or dielectric/dielectric) What quantity should be continuous? Is it the electrochemical potential, only the chemical potential or is it the electric potential? Since they...
  17. D

    Stiffness matrix for elastic materials

    For an anisotropic material, is there any way to analytically determine the elements of the stiffness matrix? For orthotropic and isotropic materials, there are analytical expressions relating the stiffness matrix elements to the elastic modulus and poisson's ratio, but I do not believe this...
  18. S

    Exploring the Relationship Between Velocity and Viscosity in Materials

    As I understand, viscosity characterizes the "resistance" of a material to "flow locally" as a function of the velocity of the material flow. Now my question is following, what are the physical mechanisms involved which make this "resistance" dependent on velocity of the material movement/flow...
  19. suhruth

    Studying Electronic properties of materials in reduced dimensions

    I Had been given an assignment on electronic properties of materials in reduced dimension as mentioned above so I have been given another option to choose whether it to be a theoretical approach or experimental approach which one should I choose.
  20. R

    Materials for space applications?

    So I'm working on this project for a inflatable solar sail (so a spherical solar sail) and we are really only verifying the deployment of the sail in space (from a cubesat)...We are doing a mock PDR and I need to find info on the sail we'll be using. My job is to find an "off the shelf"...
  21. D

    Materials for DTL, TTL circuit analysis

    Hi fellow forum-ers :), I have a test in about two weeks where i am going to be given a dtl or ttl circuit which i have to analyse and calculate its function. The professor said that the circuit given to us will always be a useful and existing one meaning he's going to give us some NAND, NOR or...
  22. M

    Which of these materials will heat up faster and why?

    Hello, I am doing a high school EEI to investigate the impact that the material of a cup has on the temperature of water inside the cup when left outside in the sun. The cups I am using are: Glass Steel Plastic Paper Theoretically, if I poured the same amount of water into each of the cups...
  23. M

    Pin in Double Shear (Mechanics of Materials)

    Homework Statement Knowing the left lug is carrying 10,000 lbs, determine the loads P1 and P2 in the lugs on the opposite side of the pin. Homework Equations Force Balance (ΣF=0) Another equation needed The Attempt at a Solution 10000 = P1 + P2 This is where I need another equation to...
  24. Hammad Ali

    Stress Transformation Question-Mechanics of Materials

    <<moved from a technical forum, no template>> Need a Solution ASAP!
  25. F

    Mechanics of materials: Statically Indeterminate member

    Homework Statement Find reactions at ends and deflection at C Homework Equations RA + RE = 115kN ##\delta##Total = ##\sum## (PiLi)/(AiEi) The Attempt at a Solution RA + RE = 115kN Then apply superposition: (Get rid of RE) divide whole member into 4 elements and add. ##\delta##Total =...
  26. nabs16

    Ferroelectric materials versus Piezoelectric materials

    Hello every one. Ferroelectric materials have spantaneous polarization but i read in many articles that these ceramics are polarized by applying an electric field. Why polarize ceramics that are already polarized ? Thanks.
  27. R

    Wires in an circuit, different materials, heat

    Homework Statement In an electric circuit, consisting of copper wires with cross section area of Sc=5mm2 and a temperature of t=25C, a lead fuse is added melting when the copper wire temperature increases by Δt=25C. Find the cross section area of the lead fuse wire Sl=x. specific heat...
  28. Alettix

    Capacitor filled with two conducting materials

    Homework Statement a) State the boundary conditions for the electric field strength E and electric flux density D at a planar interface separating two media with dielectric constants ε1 and ε2. b) A parallel plate capacitor with a plate separation d is filled with two layers of different...
  29. Charles Link

    Susceptibility of Ferromagnetic materials

    A complete table of the ac susceptibility ## \chi_m ## of various ferromagnetic materials, where ## M=\chi_m H ##, is something that I have had trouble finding in a google of ferromagnetic materials. In what I have been able to come up with to date, there is quite a spread in the values of...
  30. S

    Acoustic impedance in Materials

    Acoustic impedance of material is defined by density multiply by the velocity of waves within the base material. My question is if i have a tubular or hollow part with a base material, does this count as a reduction of density compared to the base material of the tube or hollow part. Would the...
  31. C

    Why Brittle Fracture is More Common in Strain-Rate Dependent Materials

    Why are materials whose yield stresses are highly strain-rate dependent more susceptible to brittle fracture than those materials whose yield stresses do not exhibit marked strain-rate dependence
  32. Quentin_alex

    Engineering Materials engineer in the military as a civilian

    What is it like to work as a materials engineer as a civilian with the Department of Defense?
  33. curiosity colour

    Heat conduction through a layers of different materials

    Homework Statement Question C(ii) Homework Equations dQ/dt =-kA(dθ/dx) dQ/dt = (θ1-θ2)/ ((lx/kxAx)+ (ly/kyAy)) The Attempt at a Solution So the first time I tried at this question, I was using the second equation provided above,but when I check the answer, they put the area on the numerator...
  34. S

    Exploring Magnetic Materials for 9th Graders: Zinc vs. Stainless Steel Fasteners

    I am putting together a hands on activity for ninth graders, which will include testing different materials to determine whether they are attracted to a magnet. I have collected fasteners (screws, nails, bolts), and surprised that the fasteners I purchased labeled "zinc" are attracted to the...
  35. S

    Research Topic suggestions for "nanostructured materials for solar energy conversion"

    I have selected a topic for my research work which is "nanostructured materials for solar energy conversion" I have read many of articles, most of which are about Li batteries but I want to do something new. Anyone who's in this field suggests something new.:smile:
  36. A

    A Complex wavenumber of Lamb waves in lossy materials

    Dear all, I have a question related to acoustic propagation in isotropic lossy media, more specifically generation of Lamb waves at fluid-solid interfaces. There goes the question: I am trying to obtain the Lamb wave velocity and attenuation dispersion curves of viscoelastic materials...
  37. S

    Strength of materials -- Normal stresses and Shear stresses

    Homework Statement https://ibb.co/imui5b[/B] hey i need to calculate max normal stress at BC and max shear stress at b and c is my torque equation right? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution so i thought Σma=0 Cx*6+80*6+80*2=0 i ll find cx and then ΣFx=0 and ΣFy=0
  38. B

    Mechanics of Materials Question

    Homework Statement Homework Equations G = Shear Stress/Shear Strain G = E/(2(1+n)) n being poissons ratio The Attempt at a Solution So I know the easiest way to solve is simply to manipulate the first equation a little bit >>> Shear Stress = G * Shear Strain >>> Shear Stress = P/A >>>> P...
  39. A

    Physics Condensed Matter, Materials vs. Optics, Photonics and Optoelectronics

    Hi, I'm currently in my last year of undergrad and I'm wondering about which specialization I should pursue. I'm looking for career stability, I don't mind leaving academia I'd just like to employ what I study in school in my future career. So, to my questions 1) In terms of career stability...
  40. A

    I What Materials Absorb IR The Best?

    For an assignment, we need to make a model house and need to insulate it to conserve heat. The best insulation will be picked as the winner and they are compared with an infrared thermal camera. So I thought if I could absorb the IR, it would look colder on the image therefore seeming like the...
  41. G

    Mechanics of Materials -- inclined ladder

    Homework Statement [/B] The inclined ladder AB supports a house painter (85 kg) at C and the self weight (q = 40 N/m) of the ladder itself. Each ladder rail (tr = 4 mm) is supported by a shoe (ts = 5 mm) which is attached to the ladder rail by a bolt of diameter dp =8 mm. 1) Find support...
  42. ISamson

    Build a Homemade Radio Receiver from Common Materials

    Hello, I am interested in making a homemade radio receiver out of common materials. Do you have any suggestions or websites I could get some ideas from? Thanks. I.
  43. mastermechanic

    Mechanics of Materials segment choosing

    Homework Statement Homework Equations Torque = F. d Distributed Force -> Concentrated Force = w.d The Attempt at a Solution Concentrated force is equal to 40kN and I have found the B(y) as -10kN by taking moment with respect to the A point. And from the equilibrium A(y) is 50 kN...
  44. Z

    Resistance of 2 materials, different resistivity, combined

    Homework Statement A 60-cm long gold wire is soldered to a silver wire of the same length as shown in the diagram. If each wire is 2.00 mm in diameter, determine the equivalent resistance of the combination between A and B. Diagram is attached. Homework Equations R = ρL/A The Attempt at a...
  45. D

    Can sound waves cause a burning effect on some materials?

    Hi, I wonder is it possible sound wave heat material that high that the material goes up in flames? Or what other type of frequency can make some materials burn?
  46. AD MCFC

    Engineering BS Physics to Materials Science Graduate Advice/Thoughts

    Hello All, I am currently a junior in physics and have set sights on Materials Science (Electronic Materials/Nanotechnology) for grad school. My school does not offer MS.Eng as a degree and so the only Materials Science course I can enroll in as the general "Introduction to Materials Science...
  47. H

    What is the best material for low damping in a racing simulator pedal set?

    Cross posted this in the materials forum but i received nothing so I'm posting it here. << Mentor Note -- OP has been reminded not to cross-post at the PF >> So the application is in a pedal set for a racing simulator cockpit. The brake pedal has a high resolution pressure transducer that...
  48. C

    Loading Over a span and selecting appropriate materials

    Hello all and thanks in advance for the help! I am currently working on creating a lighting fixture that will be suspended over an aquarium. What I am having trouble with is determining a safe material and thickness for the spars going between the lights (see below). My goal is to have these...
  49. C

    Two materials heated in vacuum

    Homework Statement This isn't a homework question but something I'm working on that I thought should be simple. Two disks (area ##A## and thickness ##d##) are joined together and placed under a radiation heater in vacuum, so that one side of the top disk is heated with a constant power. Assume...
  50. S

    Solid State Topological Superconductors -- Looking for introductory textbooks or study materials

    Dear All I am trying to study Topological superconductors but i have no idea about it. Can anyone suggest me an introductory book to start with.
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