So, what is piezoelectricity, and why do crystals that have it behave in their own unique way? Certain substances, when placed under physical stress, develop imbalances of charges. Electrons ...

Quartz, the most common material to display piezoelectricity, is so abundant that it’s likely many people have noticed that when squeezed it can become able to attract charged objects.

The first two chapters introduce dielectrics and microscopic materials properties, while the following chapter discusses pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity. The larger part of the text is devoted to ...

Piezoelectricity—a crystal can generate a tiny electric charge when its atomic structure is squeezed strong enough—occurs in many minerals but is particularly strong in quartz. What if this ...

This piezoelectricity may allow dissolved gold particles in geological fluids to crystallize. When an earthquake shakes ...