How
is a lollipop like glass?
Lollipops
and glass are both members of a special group of solids called
amorphous solidsalong with stuff like rubber, plastic,
wood, and living tissue. Amorphous solids are true to their
name: Their atoms arent arranged in an orderly pattern.
The
lack of long-range order in the atoms of a lollipop is a good
thing. It means that when you bite it, it will break easily
into small pieces. If the atoms were arranged in an orderly,
crystalline structure, the candy would be rock hard.
The
similarity between glass and lollipops has been put to use
in Hollywood. In early films, fake glass windows known as
candy glass were used for fight scenes. The candy
glass, made from a sugar syrup, shattered realistically, but
it was much less sharp and a lot safer than real glass. In
modern movies, however, the fake glass is made mostly of plastic.
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In
a typical
crystalline
solid, the atoms are tightly
bound in a regimented order.
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In
an
amorphous
solid such as glass or a lollipop,
the atoms arent orderly.
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