Piezoelectric Sensors and Self Monitoring Planes
Glossary
actuator. A mechanical device that takes energy (often created by air, electricity, or liquid) and converts it into motion.
atom. The fundamental unit of all matter consisting of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by orbiting electrons (or in the case of hydrogen, just one electron). For more information see Back to Basics: Atoms and molecules (Australian Academy of Science).
atomic force microscopy. A very high-resolution type of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). This imaging technique involves passing a needle-like probe over the surface of a molecule and records a three dimensional image of that surface. It can show features as small as atoms and provides researchers with the ability to view and understand events as they occur at the molecular level.
ceramics. Are inorganic, non-metallic solids processed or used at high temperatures. A ceramic is made by combining metallic and non-metallic elements. Traditional ceramic products such as clay pots and chinaware are hard, porous and brittle. Modern ceramics are used to create bones and teeth, cutting tools or to conduct electricity. For more information see Advanced ceramics (Azom.com) and About ceramics (The American Ceramic Society).
composites. Are formed by combining two or more materials that have quite different properties. The different materials combine to give the composite unique properties, but within the composite you can easily tell the different materials apart – they do not dissolve or blend into each other. Fibreglass is a composite material made from glass fibres which give it its strength and a flexible polymer resin (matrix) that binds the fibres together. For more information see Putting it together – the science and technology of composite materials (Nova: Science in the news, Australian Academy of Science).
electric dipole. These are formed when the centres of positive charges and negative charges do not coincide. The simplest example is a pair of electric charges of opposite signs that are equal in strength and separated by a small distance.
phonograph. A device invented in the 19th century for reproducing and playing sound recordings.
scanning probe microscopy. Scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) pass a needle-like probe over the surface of a molecule and record an image of that surface. Different SPMs can not only map the topography but also determine the type of atoms and their thermal and magnetic properties. Scanning tunnelling microscopes and atomic force microscopes are types of SPMs. For more information see Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) (Missouri Botanical Garden, USA).
smart sensor. A sensor that has an inbuilt ability to sense information (eg, vibrations, light, temperature, salinity), process the information and send selected information to an external receiver (including to other sensors). Also called an intelligent sensor, mote or smart dust. Smart sensors are able to detect particular conditions such as movement or abnormal temperature and react according to programmed instructions (eg, by increasing the sampling rate or transmitting information through a communication device). For more information see A sense of things to come – smart sensors and the environment (Nova: Science in the news, Australian Academy of Science).
transducer. An electrical device that transforms energy from one form to another. For example, a transducer may be used to transform sound energy to electrical energy (as in a microphone) or electrical energy into mechnical energy (as in a motor).
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Posted July 2011, edited August 2012