5.2 PLTW Terms

Nanotechnology

Techniques that produce or measures features less than 100 nanometers in size.

Hydrophobic

Tending to repel or fail to mix with water.

Metrology

The science of measurement.

Atom

The smallest unit of a chemical element, made up of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.

Magnification

Make appear larger than it is, especially with a lens or microscope.

Scanning Probe Microscope

Microscope with a very sharp tip that is scanned over a surface to measure some property.

Buckyball

Molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a sphere.

Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)

A device for mapping surface atomic structure by measuring the force acting on the tip of a sharply pointed wire or other object that is moved over the surface.

Patent

A government license giving an individual or body the sole right to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period.

Molecule

A group of atoms chemically bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.

Alloy

A metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion.

Nanotube

A microscopic tube whose diameter is measured in nanometers.

Hexagon

A plane figure with six straight sides and angles.

Pentagon

A polygon of five sides and five angles.

Clean Room

A room for the manufacture or assembly of objects that is maintained at a high level of cleanliness by special means.

Nanometer

A unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter.

Angstrom

A unit of length equal to one ten-thousandth -10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10 of a meter.

Billionth

A very small number -10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10*-10

Micrometer

An instrument attached to a telescope or microscope for measuring small distances or angles.

Microscope

An optical instrument for magnifying very small objects.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

Established in 1958 as the government agency responsible for the United States of America's space program and long-term general aerospace research.

Nano

Extremely small; originally from Greek word nanos this means dwarf.

Hydrophilic

Having a tendency to mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water.

Surfactant

Surface active substance.