Dust

Dust is a general name for minute solid particles of diameters less than 500 micrometers (otherwise see sand or granulates) and, more generally, for finely divided matter. On Earth, dust occurs in the atmosphere from various sources: soil dust lifted up by wind, volcanic eruptions, and pollution are some examples; airborne dust is considered an aerosol and can have a strong, local radiative forcing on the atmosphere and significant effects on climate. Dust is also widely present in outer space (see interstellar dust and Zodiacal light), where gas and dust clouds are primary precursors for planetary systems.

Related Topics:
Solid - Diameter - 500 micrometers - Sand - Granulates - Matter - Earth - Atmosphere - Soil - Wind - Volcanic eruptions - Pollution - Aerosol - Radiative forcing - Climate - Interstellar dust - Zodiacal light - Gas - Planetary systems

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The physical behavior of dust follows laws that are not always comparable with that of solid or fluid matter. For example, the pressure on a box full of dust need not be uniform (See physics of granulate matter for explanation).

Related Topics:
Solid - Fluid - Pressure - Physics of granulate matter

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