Australian Science Illustrated – Issue 51 2017

20 | SCIENCE ILLUSTRATED

ASK US

The average smartphone needs

more than 60 metals to function properly.

What is my mobile

phone made of?

INSIDE THE BODY

An average smartphone includes about 60

different metals, metalloids, and transition

metals. They are used in all parts of the

smartphone – from its outer shell to chips,

display, speakers, and battery. In the

display, indium tin oxide plays a vital role in

converting taps into electric signals the

phone can process. Elsewhere, the highly

magnetic neodymium is used to make

strong and light miniature speaker

magnets. Many other metals are included.

An adult human has 206 bones, intricately

linked in different ways. Each joint is a complex

structure consisting of ligaments, connective

tissue, membranes, and special

liquids that lubricate the joint.

?

How many types of joints

does my body have?

SHUTTERSTOCK

A PHONE CONTAINS

GOLD, BORON, COBALT

Electric connections:

Copper, gold, silver, tungsten

Chips: Silicon, hafnium

Battery: Lithium, cobalt

Camera: Lanthanum

Sound and vibration:

Neodymium, boron

Outer shell: Aluminium

Display: Indium, terbium

Condyloid joint

Allows biaxial

movement such as

in the wrist. The joint

does not allow much

sideways or back-

wards movement.

Immovable joints

The bones of the

skull fuse together in

early childhood to

protect the brain.

Pivot joint

The joint between the

two upper cervical

vertebrae is designed

to turn, while a differ-

ent joint allows us to

move our head forward

and backward.

Ball and socket joint

Shoulders and hip

allow the most

movement. Pads of

cartilage and

lubricants make sure

the joint moves

freely. Loss of this

material is a frequent

cause of pain or

even immobility.

Hinge joint

Knees and elbows

can move back

and forth, but not

to the sides.

Saddle joint

The thumb root is

linked with the hand

in the only saddle

joint in our body.

The joint allows

movement back,

forth, and sideways,

but not much rotation.

Gliding joint

Is located between

flat bones such as in

a foot or hand and

allows the bones to

glide past each other.

SHUTTERSTOCK