showed that certain crystals produce an electric charge
when under mechanical stress, particularly
tourmaline, quartz, topaz, sugar, and Rochelle salt.
Gabriel Lippmann deduced the converse effect
from thermodynamic principles, and the Curie brothers
swiftly confirmed that an electric charge
causes a mechanical deformation of the same crystals.
Piezoelectric uses
Sonar transducers
phonograph needle cartridges
buzzers, solid-state speakers
microphones
quartz watches
ultrasonic transducers
for material analysis
and backup proximity sensors
automobile airbag sensors
igniters for stoves and grills
Transducer
If you made a transducer
to convert gravity into levity
would you unleash it on the world?
Time to get serious
about not making money
doing what we love.
A transducer converts one form of energy into another.
But the energy must be dynamic;
you can’t simply put a weight on a piece of quartz
to generate electricity indefinitely.
A transducer converts one form of energy into another. But the energy must be dynamic; you can’t simply put a weight on a piece of quartz to generate electricity indefinitely.
See also in The book of science:
Readings on wikipedia: