Pile facts for kids

Pile or Piles is a word that can mean many different things! It's like a word with several hats. It can refer to a stack of things, but it also has special meanings in building, energy, and even textiles. Let's explore some of the most interesting uses of the word "Pile."

Building with Piles

In building, a "pile" is a very important part of a structure's foundation. Imagine a tall building or a bridge. It needs strong support to stand firm, especially on soft ground. That's where piles come in!

What are Piles?

Piles are like long, strong poles or columns that are driven deep into the ground. They transfer the weight of a building or bridge down to stronger soil or rock layers below. This helps to make sure the structure stays stable and doesn't sink.

Types of Piles

• Screw piles: These are special piles that look like giant screws. They are twisted into the ground, which can be faster and cause less vibration than hammering traditional piles. They are often used for smaller buildings or structures.
• Pile bridges: These bridges use piles as their main support. The piles are driven into the riverbed or seabed to hold up the bridge deck.
• Pile lighthouses: Some lighthouses, especially in places like Florida or Australia, are built on piles. They stand on tall, thin legs that are driven into the water, making them look like they are floating above the waves.
  • Screw-pile lighthouses: These are a type of pile lighthouse where the piles are literally screwed into the sandy or muddy bottom of the sea or a river. This design helps them stand strong in soft ground.

Energy and Piles

The word "pile" has also been used in the history of energy and electricity.

Atomic Pile

• Atomic pile: This was an early name for a nuclear reactor. The very first nuclear reactor, built in 1942, was called the Chicago Pile-1. It was made of blocks of graphite and uranium, stacked up like a "pile." This amazing invention showed that humans could control nuclear reactions.
• Windscale Piles: These were two early nuclear reactors located in Cumberland, England. They were built after World War II to produce materials for nuclear weapons. One of them had a fire in 1957, which was a significant event in nuclear history.

Voltaic Pile

• Voltaic pile: This was the very first modern electric battery! It was invented by an Italian scientist named Alessandro Volta around 1800. He stacked up discs of copper and zinc, separated by cardboard soaked in saltwater. This "pile" could produce a steady flow of electricity, which was a huge breakthrough at the time.

People Named Pile or Piles

Some people have the surname Pile or Piles.

People with the name Pile

• Pile (surname): This is a family name that many people share.
• Pile (singer) (born 1988): Her real name is Eriko Hori. She is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer. She is known for her roles in anime shows and for her music career.

People with the name Piles

• Roger de Piles (1636–1709): He was a French art expert and writer. He wrote important books about art and painting, sharing his ideas about what makes good art.
• Samuel H. Piles (1858–1940): He was an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat. He served as a United States Senator from Washington state. Politicians help make laws and represent their communities.
• Gerasim Pileš (1913–2003): He was a Soviet Chuvash writer, playwright, sculptor, and painter. He was a talented artist who worked in many different creative fields.

Places with "Pile" in the Name

The word "Pile" can also be found in the names of various places around the world.

Places in Europe

• Piles, Valencia: This is a small town located in the province of Valencia, in Spain.
• Les Piles: This is another small town in Spain, located in the province of Tarragona.

Places in North America

• Piles Creek: This is a small stream located in Union County, New Jersey, in the United States.
• The Pile: This is a nickname for the ruins of the World Trade Center site in New York City after the events of September 11, 2001. It refers to the large amount of debris left after the buildings collapsed.

Other Uses of Pile

The word "pile" has even more meanings!

Pile in Textiles

• Pile (textile): In textiles, "pile" refers to the raised surface of a fabric. Think about a fluffy towel or a soft carpet. The little loops or strands of yarn that stick up from the surface are called the pile.
  • Carpet pile: This is the soft, fuzzy surface of a carpet. It can be made of different materials and cut in various ways to create different textures, like plush or loop pile.

Pile in Astronomy

• Rubble pile: In astronomy, a "rubble pile" is a type of asteroid or comet. It's not a solid rock, but rather a collection of smaller rocks and dust held together by gravity. Imagine a giant cosmic pile of space rocks!

Pile in Heraldry

• Pile (heraldry): In heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms, a "pile" is a specific shape. It's a downward-pointing triangle that starts from the top edge of a shield and goes down to a point. It's one of the basic shapes used in designing coats of arms.

Images for kids

See also

• Piling (disambiguation)
• Heap (disambiguation)
• Pyle (surname)
• Pyles (surname)