definition
The piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain solid materials (crystals, certain ceramics and even biological matter such as bone, DNA and certain proteins) to generate a voltage when subjected to mechanical stress and vice versa.
DISCOVERY
- In 1880, the French physicists and brothers Paul-Jacques Curie and Pierre Curie demonstrated the generation of an electric potential when compressing tourmaline and quartz crystals.
- Tin sheets were attached to the top and bottom of a crystal and the crystal subjected to pressure; once compressed, a voltage was created that was detected by a voltmeter because of the tin sheets. When released, an inverse voltage was created.
[ux_image id=”511″ width=”50″ link=”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity” target=”_blank”]
discoverers
- Here is a photograph of Paul-Jacques Curie:
[ux_image_box img=”516″ image_width=”30″ link=”https://www.geni.com/people/Paul-Jacques-Curie/4754172714860029316″ target=”_blank”]
(1855-1941)
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- And here is one of Pierre Curie:
[ux_image_box img=”521″ image_width=”30″ link=”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Curie” target=”_blank”]
(1859-1906)
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