Quartz clock
device · 1927 · Electric age
A clock paced by the vibrations of a quartz crystal.
What it is made of
- Tuning fork — has part. Quartz shaped like a tuning fork at 32,768 Hz.
Principles and materials it uses
- Piezoelectric effect — uses. The quartz resonator vibrates thanks to the piezoelectric effect.
- Resonance — uses. Resonance of the crystal.
- Silica (sand) — is made of. The resonator is a quartz crystal.
History: what it evolved from and what it influenced
- Pendulum clock — evolved from. Quartz replaced the pendulum as the frequency standard.
- Atomic clock — evolved into. The quartz oscillator is tuned to an atomic standard.
- Mechanical clock — evolved from. Quartz clocks replaced mechanical ones: a vibrating quartz crystal took the place of the pendulum and balance.