Definition - What does Tensile Strength mean? Tensile strength is the ability of a material to withstand a pulling (tensile) force. It is customarily measured in units of force per cross-sectional area. This is an important concept in engineering, especially in the fields of material science, mechanical engineering and structural engineering.
Microorganisms In A Compost Pile. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes account for most of the decomposition that takes place in a pile. They are considered chemical decomposers, because they change the chemistry of organic wastes.
Children can observe compost organisms at work and study their life cycles or carry out food preference experiments. The vast bulk of the decomposition work in compost is carried out by microorganisms including fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes (organisms that resemble fungi but actually are filamentous bacteria). Microbes can be plated for study of individual species, or their populations can be charted through something as simple as daily temperature measurements. Under optimal conditions, a compost pile will heat up to temperatures in the range of 50-65Â°C (120-150Â°F), caused by the metabolic heat of the microbes. You can see evidence of this when a steamy mist rises from your compost pile as you turn it or dig into it.