The Physics of Quartz

Watches
C3Cs Brynn Crownover and Tati Kong
 Overview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jfgQF3jX7A
A battery produces a current in the watch circuit, of
which the quartz crystal is a part.

This current causes the quartz to vibrate at precisely

32768 times a second.

The circuit counts to oscillations and turns each 32768

vibrations into one electric pulse.

The electric pulses power a tiny electric motor, which

converts electrical energy from the pulses into
mechanical energy.

This energy turns the gears and hands to move around

the face of the clock.
Why?
The Piezoelectric effect

MECHANICAL STRESS ELECTRICITY

Piezoelectric effect
Property of the material
Not constant within a material: Polarization
Nonbinary: A material can be more or less piezoelectric than another
Organic and inorganic material: the commonality being lattice
structure and polarization
Why???
Produced when ions in a solid-state lattice are rearranged
Examples of Piezoelectric Materials
Cane Sugar
Rochelle Salt
Topaz
Apatite crystals in bone
 ACCURATE
CHEAP
EASY TO PRODUCE
EASY TO MAINTAIN
Applications (of Piezoelectric Materials)
● High Voltage and Power Sources
○ Electric cigarette lighter
● Sensors/pressure variations
○ Sound
■ Microphones, guitar
pickups, medical imaging
○ Motion
■ Cell phones, musical
greeting cards
References
https://uk.mondaine.com/blogs/news/how-does-a-quartz-watch-work#:~:text=A%20Quartz%20watch%20w
orks%20as,vibrations%20into%20one%20electric%20pulse
.

https://www.mouser.com/blog/the-underlying-chemistry-of-piezo-materials

https://www.nanomotion.com/nanomotion-technology/piezoelectric-effect/#:~:text=Some%20naturally%20
piezoelectric%20occurring%20materials,to%20act%20as%20a%20biological

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/77225

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vubv6KICbg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jfgQF3jX7A

Research method: Google

Questions?