Snow Crystals (eBook)

A Case Study in Spontaneous Structure Formation

Kenneth G. Libbrecht (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2021
456 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-22362-9 (ISBN)

Infos

A definitive new investigation of the science of snowflakes by the world's leading expertA snowflake's sophisticated symmetry emerges when crystalline ice grows from water vapor within the winter clouds. While certain iconic snowflake shapes are visually familiar to us, microscopic close-ups of falling snow reveal a rich menagerie of lesser-known forms, including slender needle clusters, hollow columns, bullet rosettes, triangular crystals, and exotic capped columns. What explains the myriad and unusual structures of snowflakes that materialize under different atmospheric conditions? In Snow Crystals, Kenneth Libbrecht delves into the science of snowflakes, examining why ice crystals grow the way they do, how patterns emerge, and what they illuminate about the fundamental physics of crystal growth, structure formation, and self-assembly.Libbrecht-the world's foremost expert on snowflakes-describes the full range of physical processes underlying their occurrence. He explores such topics as the centuries-long development of snow crystal science, the crystalline structure of ice, molecular dynamics at the ice surface, diffusion-limited growth, surface attachment kinetics, computational models of snow crystal growth, laboratory techniques for creating and studying snow crystals, different types of natural snowflakes, and photographing snow crystals. Throughout, Libbrecht's extensive detailed discussions are accompanied by hundreds of beautiful full-color images.From the molecular dynamics of surface premelting to the aerodynamics of falling snow, Snow Crystals chronicles the continuing quest to fully understand this fascinating phenomenon.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 21.12.2021
• Zusatzinfo: 461 color illus.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Festkörperphysik
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: Accuracy and precision • artistic rendering • Atmospheric pressure • atmospheric sciences • Attic calendar • baking • biomolecule • Blood Glucose • Branching (polymer chemistry) • BY-PRODUCT • Camera • camphor • Canon EOS 5D • Chemical Bond • Chemical formula • chisel • circumference • Clear ice • Cloud • coefficient • Collision • Computational Chemistry • Computational Model • consumer • Crystal • crystal growth • crystal structure • Cubic crystal system • Curvature • Cytokine • deforestation • Desiccation • Dew Point • diagram • Diffusion Equation • Dimension • Dislocation • Drop (liquid) • Economic Development • Facet (geometry) • faceting • Field lens • Focus Stacking • freedman • Glucocorticoid • Glycoside • hatchling • Heat exchanger • hydrogen atom • ICE • Ice Ih • implementation • Impurity • isotropy • latent heat • Lighting • liquid crystal • menopause • micrograph • Mitutoyo • Molecule • Neglect • Nematode • Nomenclature • nucleation • Parabola • Parasitoid • Pedagogy • percentage • petite bourgeoisie • Phase (matter) • Pixel • Planned economy • Plate column • Properties of Water • Public sector • Quadratic equation • Refractive index • result • Scientific Method • Snow • Southwestern United States • Sovereignty • stabilization policy • stagnation point • State management • Steradian • Stokes' law • storage tank • Stunted growth • Supersaturation • Surface diffusion • Surface energy • Surface Roughness • Temperature • Temperature Gradient • video production • Visual Effects • Website • Zero of a function
• ISBN-10: 0-691-22362-9 / 0691223629
• ISBN-13: 978-0-691-22362-9 / 9780691223629