Demonstrations

Piezoelectric Crystal Demo

Code Number :	5E60.12
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Good
Principle :	Piezoelectric Crystal
Area of Study :	Electricity & Magnetism
Equipment :	Piezoelectric crystal circuit board, Neon or Argon bulb for piezoelectric circuit, Large Rochelle Salt Crystal (Sodium Potassium Tartrate), Flash Rocks, Grill lighter, Piezo popper.
Procedure :	This demo works on the principle that the bending of the special crystal produces a voltage discharge. The gas light bulbs act as visual indicators of this discharge. The flash rocks have quartz crystals impregnated in them so that when you subject them to stress the quartz gives an electrical discharge. Stress means hitting, rubbing, or squeezing the rocks together. Add 2 drops of methanol to the film canister at the end of the Piezo popper. Shake vigorously. Point away from all individuals and pull the trigger. This can be used to show how a gas engine works. A variation of the first demo described here is to solder a small neon bulb to the contacts of a used grill lighter. Pressing the trigger causes the bulb to flash briefly.

Web Sites

"Chapter 5: Thermodynamics: Building the Film Can Cannon." www.scitoys.com

References

H. Richard Crane, "How Things Work", TPT, Vol. 32, # 6, Sept. 1994, p. 360.

"The Quartz Analog Watch: A Wonder Machine", TPT, Vol. 31, # 8, Nov. 1993, p. 501.

Kaye M. Elsner, Craig Anderson, "Spark Student Interest with a Piezoelectric Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 29, # 8, Nov. 1991, p. 510.

Roger E. Malcolm, "A Measurement Using the Piezoelectric Effect", TPT, Vol. 27, # 8, Nov. 1989, p. 637.

Eugene P. Scheide, "The Piezoelectric-Crystal Mercury Dosimeter", TPT, Vol. 15, # 1, Jan. 1977, p. 47.

Robert E. Apfel, "Acoustic Surface Waves in Piezoelectric Materials - a New Technology", TPT, Vol. 12, # 2, Feb. 1974, p. 109.

J. S. Huebner, "A Piezoelectric Spark Pump", TPT, Vol. 9, # 8, Nov. 1971, p. 471.

J. Harris and A. Ahlgren, "Some Simple Experiments and Demonstrations", TPT, Vol. 4, # 7, Oct. 1966, p. 314.

Josef Valasek, "Piezoelectricity", TPT, Vol. 1, # 5, Nov. 1963, p. 217.

"Putting the Squeeze on Ferroelectrics", Physics Today, March 2008, p. 18.

Ea-9: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

C.L. Stong, "An Amateur's Improved Design for a Homemade Quartz Crystal Clock," The Amateur Scientist, June, 1961.

Simon Quellen Field, "The Mark II Film Can Cannon", Gonzo Gizmos, p. 154 - 155.

Alan Holden and Phylis Morrison, "The Piezoelectric Effect," Crystals and Crystal Growing. p. 225 - 234.

Arthur B. Ellis, Margret J. Geselbracht, Brian J. Johnson, George C. Lisensky, William R. Robinson, "Piezoelectric Crystals," Teaching General Chemistry - A Materials Science Companion, p. 42.

Arthur B. Ellis, Margret J. Geselbracht, Brian J. Johnson, George C. Lisensky, William R. Robinson, "Atoms and Electrons," Chapter 2, Teaching General Chemistry - A Materials Science Companion, p. 20.

Arthur B. Ellis, Margret J. Geselbracht, Brian J. Johnson, George C. Lisensky, William R. Robinson, "An Introduction to Materials Science," Chapter 1, Teaching General Chemistry - A Materials Science Companion, p. 12.

Janice VanCleave, "Flash!" 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird, & Fun Experiments, p. 19.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille