What is Liquid crystal?
[[File:Nematische Phase Schlierentextur.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Schlieren]] texture of Liquid Crystal. This photo was taken with a polarizing filter and a microscope]] '''Liquid crystals''' are special [[substance]]s that are usually [[liquid]], but that show certain properties of a [[crystal|solid crystal]]. A liquid crystal (LC) may flow like a liquid, but its [[molecules]] may be rotated in a crystal-like way. There are many different types of liquid crystal phases. Different phases are different because their [[Optics|optical]] properties are different. Using a [[microscope]] and a [[polarization|polarized]] [[light]] source, different liquid crystal phases will have different [[texture]]s. This is also shown in the image. The contrasting areas in the texture each correspond to a domain where the LC molecules are rotated in a different direction. Within a domain, however, the molecules are well ordered. LC materials may not always be in an LC phase (just as [[water]] is not always in the liquid phase: it may also be found in the solid and [[gas|gaseous phase]]). [[Liquid crystal display]]<nowiki/>s use the optical properties of liquid crystals to control light. {{physics-stub}} {{States of matter}} [[Category:Physics]] [[Category:Thermometers]]