Carbon and its Phases
Carbon is a common element with various forms depending on how its atoms are arranged.
Different arrangements of carbon atoms create different materials, such as diamond (hardest material) and graphite (used in pencils).
Graphite and Sandwiches
Graphite, found in pencils, is made of layers of carbon atoms arranged in sheets, like slices of bread in a sandwich.
Each layer (graphene) has strong bonds between atoms, but the bonds between layers are weak, allowing layers to slide off.
Graphite is a good conductor of electricity and heat because of its unique molecular structure
How Writing Works
Pencils write by sliding graphite (carbon layers) onto paper.
As the pencil moves, layers of graphene from the graphite core are transferred to the paper, creating marks, unlike pens which use liquid ink.
Condensed Matter Physics
The study of how materials behave differently depending on the arrangement of their atoms or molecules.
In condensed matter physics, the behavior of materials like graphite and diamond is influenced by how their atoms interact, similar to how large groups of individuals behave differently.
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