Humidity sensors (hygrometers) measure and report the air’s relative humidity. They are used in homes, wine cellars, and working environments that that are so humid that they negatively impact working conditions. Humidity sensors are also used in vehicles, industrial HVAC systems, and meteorological stations to help in the predicting and reporting of weather conditions. How …
Solar energy is created by taking sunlight (solar thermal energy) and converting it into electricity. This conversion takes place via a medium that absorbs the solar energy and then converts it into usable electricity that can power various objects that are electrically operated. While the solar panel is not the most effective method of generating …
ESR Spectroscopy (Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) is a technique used for studying chemical species that have one or more “free radical” or unpaired electrons. Most stable molecules only have paired electrons without any free radicals, so ESR Spectroscopy is used less often than NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) Spectroscopy, the usual …
Photonic crystals are those that manipulate how photons are absorbed or reflected off of them. They occur in nature and are made of dielectric nanostructures that allow certain wavelengths to pass through them while blocking other wavelengths. The visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum’s wavelengths is responsible for colors, therefore photonic crystals can spontaneously …
Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) is an inorganic chemical reagent that is normally used as an oxidizer in industrial and laboratory applications. It is used to oxidize alcohols and convert primary alcohols to aldehydes and sometimes carboxylic acids. Unlike similar processes that use permanganate, only carboxylic acids result. The secondary alcohols are converted into ketones and no …
A linear particle accelerator is a large device that can speed up electrons, ions, or other particles and slam them into a target in order to release subatomic particles and radiation. Sensors then record these by-products, send their data to a central computer system that creates a digital, 3D image of the particle, and labels …
A magnetic levitating vehicle (MagLev) is a vehicle that uses a strong electromagnetic field to resist gravity and keep the vehicle floating out of the ground. The technical name is Electromagnetic suspension. The principle of the Electromagnetic suspension is to charge with the same pole the base of the vehicle and the rail with a …
Magnetic propulsion is the act of moving an object with magnetic fields and a flowing electrical current. The current is used to manipulate the system’s magnetic field or charge a fluid in the system that can be repelled. The Lorentz force then pushes the conductor in a direction that is perpendicular to the magnetic field …
The light bulb, invented in 1854, has been a crucial component of civilization since. Contrary to popular belief, the light bulb was invented by Henricg Globel, a German watchmaker, not Thomas Edison. Edison did improve on the idea of the incandescent light bulb, though, and strived to make it better. Due to the works of …
A profilometer is an instrument that measures a surface profile to determine its roughness. A surface’s vertical resolution is normally measured at the nanometer level, with lateral resolutions being measured to a less accurate degree. Over the past decade, profilometers have started using laser technology in order to improve the degree to which a surface …