Filament
From Freepedia
Image:Solar-filament.gif A filament is a fine, thread-like structure. Originally the term referred to animal or vegetable structures, but with advances in technology it is frequently used to refer to human-made objects including filaments in textiles, electricity and astronomy. The word derives from the Latin filum meaning thread.
- In astronomy
- A filament is used to refer to any thread like structure in the astronomical universe.
- In cosmology, a filament is the organizational largest structure of the universe, consisting of superclusters arrayed against voids and supervoids.
- In solar astronomy, a filament is a strand of cool gas suspended over the photosphere by magnetic fields, which appears dark as seen against the disk of the Sun. [1]
- In astrophysical plasmas, filaments are another name for Birkeland currents (or field-aligned currents), as seen in the aurora and plasma lamps.
- In biology
- In electricity
- An electrical filament is used to convert electricity into heat and/or light and refers to elements made of some kind of wire. Filaments are commonly found in traditional light bulbs and vacuum tubes. Thomas Alva Edison found that carbon made the best filament material for his incandescent light bulbs. Today most incandescent light bulbs use tungsten filament, which is even better. [3]
Image:Light-bulb-and-filament.jpg
- In textiles
- Contrary to fibres (or staple fibres) which are cut to a selected length, the word "filament" is used in the textile industry to designate an endless or continuous object, the length of which is only limited by the capacity of the spool whereon the filament is wound.
- In wig making, a filament is also known as monofilament, is also used in wigs [4] to aid in breathability of the base that the hair is attached too. In medicine [5] it is used for testing purposes. However, it is most known for its use as fishing line called monofilament line.
