Piezoelectricity: Why quartz ticks

Piezoelectricity: Why quartz ticks

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Msc

Introduction 

• Piezoelectricity is a remarkable phenomenon whereby some materials – including quartz, ceramics such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and even certain biological substances like  bone and the tendons – can generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress. 

What is the Piezoelectric Effect?

• The piezoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which certain materials produce an electrical charge in response to mechanical stress or pressure.
• This effect occurs when the material is subjected to a force that causes its molecules to become polarized, meaning that the positive and negative charges within the material are separated from each other.
• When this polarization occurs, an electric potential is generated across the material, and if the material is connected to a circuit, a current can flow.
• The reverse is also true: if an electric potential is applied to the material, it can cause a mechanical deformation.
• Piezoelectric materials are used in a variety of applications, such as in sensors, actuators, and energy harvesting devices. Some examples of common piezoelectric materials include quartz, ceramics, and certain types of crystals.
• Quartz is the most famous piezoelectric crystal, it is used in this capacity in analog wristwatches and clocks.
• The Piezoelectric effect was discovered in 1880, in quartz, by Jacques and Pierre Curie.
• Some materials also display an inverse piezoelectric effect, where the application of an electric current induces a mechanical deformation.
• Both direct and inverse piezoelectric materials are widely used in pressure sensors, accelerometers, and acoustic devices –where their ability to convert mechanical signals into  electrical signals is crucial.
• The piezoelectric effect is also what made quartz watches so common and,  over time, affordable.