Why is sand different? Detailed answer

BIG ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Free library / Directory / Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Why is sand different? Detailed answer

Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Directory / Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education

Did you know?

Why is sand different?

Under the influence of wind, rain, frost, mountains are destroyed, turning into small pebbles and particles; such particles ranging in size from 0,05 mm to 2,5 mm in diameter are called "sand".

Sand is obtained from small particles of minerals that make up rocks, so various minerals can be found in the sand. Mostly quartz is found in sand, as it is durable and abundant in nature. Sometimes sand is 99% quartz. Other minerals in the sand include feldspar, calcite, mica, iron ore, and small amounts of garnet, tourmaline, and topaz.

Sand is formed where rocks are subject to destruction. One of the main places where sand is formed is the seashore. The action of waves on rocks, windblown sand on rocks, and seawater on certain minerals all contribute to the formation of sand.

Sand from the shore is carried by the wind inland. Sometimes so much sand moves that the whole forest can be covered with sand dunes.

What about sand in deserts? Mostly it was brought here by the wind. In some cases, desert sand was formed as a result of the destruction of mountain ranges. In some cases, in the place of the desert at one time there was a sea, which, retreating thousands of years ago, left sand here.

Sand is a very useful material. A lot of it is used in construction. In combination with cement and water, sand forms a thick, sticky paste - a "mortar", which, when solidified, turns into "concrete". Sand is also used in the manufacture of glass, sandpaper, and filters for water purification.

Author: Likum A.

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

Which part of the monument to the French journalist Victor Noir glistens and why?

In many countries, metal monuments with exposed genitals suffer from the fact that people rub these very organs to a shine - supposedly, this brings sexual luck. And even if the sexual organ is clearly not visible, this does not save individual monuments. At the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, there is a monument to the journalist Victor Noir, who lived in the 19th century and was killed in a duel. The monument depicts Noir lying on the ground after receiving a bullet, but the most noticeable detail is the bump in the fly area. According to legend, if a woman has problems in her sex life or cannot give birth, she should kiss this bump, which has long been shining brightly, and then put flowers in Noir's overturned hat.

Test your knowledge! Did you know...

▪ What is a sphinx?

▪ When did museums appear?

▪ How did a French engineer save the Great Pyramids from dismantling for building materials?

See other articles Section Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Machine for thinning flowers in gardens 02.05.2024

In modern agriculture, technological progress is developing aimed at increasing the efficiency of plant care processes. The innovative Florix flower thinning machine was presented in Italy, designed to optimize the harvesting stage. This tool is equipped with mobile arms, allowing it to be easily adapted to the needs of the garden. The operator can adjust the speed of the thin wires by controlling them from the tractor cab using a joystick. This approach significantly increases the efficiency of the flower thinning process, providing the possibility of individual adjustment to the specific conditions of the garden, as well as the variety and type of fruit grown in it. After testing the Florix machine for two years on various types of fruit, the results were very encouraging. Farmers such as Filiberto Montanari, who has used a Florix machine for several years, have reported a significant reduction in the time and labor required to thin flowers. ... >>

Advanced Infrared Microscope 02.05.2024

Microscopes play an important role in scientific research, allowing scientists to delve into structures and processes invisible to the eye. However, various microscopy methods have their limitations, and among them was the limitation of resolution when using the infrared range. But the latest achievements of Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo open up new prospects for studying the microworld. Scientists from the University of Tokyo have unveiled a new microscope that will revolutionize the capabilities of infrared microscopy. This advanced instrument allows you to see the internal structures of living bacteria with amazing clarity on the nanometer scale. Typically, mid-infrared microscopes are limited by low resolution, but the latest development from Japanese researchers overcomes these limitations. According to scientists, the developed microscope allows creating images with a resolution of up to 120 nanometers, which is 30 times higher than the resolution of traditional microscopes. ... >>

Air trap for insects 01.05.2024

Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the economy, and pest control is an integral part of this process. A team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla, has come up with an innovative solution to this problem - a wind-powered insect air trap. This device addresses the shortcomings of traditional pest control methods by providing real-time insect population data. The trap is powered entirely by wind energy, making it an environmentally friendly solution that requires no power. Its unique design allows monitoring of both harmful and beneficial insects, providing a complete overview of the population in any agricultural area. “By assessing target pests at the right time, we can take necessary measures to control both pests and diseases,” says Kapil ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Atmospheric nitrogen battery 25.04.2017

Xin-Bo Zhang of the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues have proposed a way to capture atmospheric nitrogen that could be used in a battery. The scientists described their development in an article published in the journal Chem.

As the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, nitrogen has long been an attractive option as a source of renewable energy. But nitrogen gas, which consists of two nitrogen atoms held together by a strong triple covalent bond, does not break down under normal conditions. Accordingly, the problem is to convert the chemical bond energy into electricity.

The principle of operation is based on reversing the chemical reaction that powers existing lithium-nitrogen batteries. Instead of generating power by decomposing lithium nitride (2Li3N) into lithium and nitrogen, the researchers' prototype battery runs on atmospheric nitrogen, which reacts with lithium to form lithium nitride. Its power output is short but comparable to that of other lithium metal batteries.

"This promising battery research based on a nitrogen fixation system not only provides fundamental and technical advances in energy storage technology, but also creates an advanced N2/Li3N (nitrogen-gas/lithium nitride) cycle for a reversible nitrogen fixation process," Xin said. Bo Zhang: "But the work is still in its early stages. More intensive efforts should be directed towards the development of battery systems."

Other interesting news:

▪ plastic gold

▪ Revolutionary hybrid relay

▪ Unsatisfied eyes tempt the stomach

▪ Electricity generation during wood drying

▪ Sea water batteries

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the site for those who like to travel - tips for tourists. Article selection

▪ article Human security in the information space. Basics of safe life

▪ article Why did Dirac want to refuse the Nobel Prize? Detailed answer

▪ article Actinidia delicacy. Legends, cultivation, methods of application

▪ article Selection of electrical wiring, methods of laying wires and cables. Electrical parts. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article AC electronic fuse. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews