ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mie–Grüneisen equation of state

Imagine you are playing with a balloon. If you squeeze it, the air inside the balloon will feel more pressured and the balloon will become smaller. This is the general idea behind the Mie-Grüneisen equation of state.

This equation relates the pressure, volume, and temperature of a material, like a balloon or solid object, to how its particles move and interact with each other. These interactions depend on the material’s density and how fast its particles move, which affects how it responds to changes in temperature and pressure.

So, if you heat up a material, like a balloon that has been sitting in the sun, its particles will move faster and take up more space. This causes the balloon to expand. On the other hand, if you increase the pressure on the balloon, its particles get closer together and the balloon will shrink.

The Mie-Grüneisen equation of state helps scientists predict how materials will behave under different conditions of pressure, volume, and temperature. This knowledge can be used to design structures and materials that withstand extreme conditions, such as spacecraft and deep sea vehicles.