Seebeck effect

The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon that occurs when there is a temperature difference between two ends of a conductor, and a voltage is generated along the conductor as a result. This voltage is called the thermoelectric voltage or the Seebeck voltage.

The Seebeck effect is named after Thomas Johann Seebeck, who discovered it in 1821. Seebeck found that when a conductor made of a metallic alloy was placed in a temperature gradient, a voltage was generated along the conductor. This voltage could be measured using a device called a thermocouple, which consists of two different conductors joined at one end.

The magnitude of the Seebeck voltage is directly proportional to the temperature difference between the two ends of the conductor and the thermoelectric power of the material. The thermoelectric power is a measure of the material's ability to generate a voltage in response to a temperature gradient.

The Seebeck effect is used in a variety of applications, including thermoelectric generators, which are devices that convert heat into electricity. It is also used in thermocouples, which are widely used to measure temperature in a variety of settings.

Overall, the Seebeck effect demonstrates the relationship between temperature, electricity, and heat, and has a variety of practical applications in the fields of thermodynamics and energy conversion.