The Quiz: Because it vibrates when electrically charged, what crystal is often used in timepieces?
Topaz
Quartz
Sapphire
Amethyst
Quartz is used by billions of people every day, but few realize it because the tiny crystals they use are hidden in their watches. If quartz crystals are subjected to mechanical stress, they can generate electricity. This ability to convert voltage to and from mechanical stress is called piezoelectricity. Inside of a watch is a tiny piece of quartz that is shaped like a miniature tuning fork. When an electric current is passed into the quartz tuning fork, it vibrates at a high frequency, more than 32,000 times per second. Watchmakers can translate this mechanical ticking into the ticks of a watch by using an electrical circuit.
The correct answer to this quiz is Quartz.