What did Polanyi's dislocation theory explain?
Plastic deformation
Thermal expansion
Electrical conductivity
Magnetic properties
Answer
Plastic deformation, a permanent change in a material's shape, is explained by Polanyi's dislocation theory. Dislocations are imperfections in the crystal structure of a material that allow atoms to shift past each other, enabling the material to deform without breaking. When stress is applied, dislocations move, allowing the material to change shape while maintaining its integrity.
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