piezo-, piez- +

Any material that generates electrical charges when subjected to a mechanical force.

A semiconductor that exhibits the piezoelectric effect (electric current produced by some crystals and ceramic materials when they are subjected to mechanical pressure); such as, quartz or barium titanate.

A device that uses the interaction between an electric charge and the deformation of a piezoelectric crystal to convert mechanical or acoustical signals into electrical ones, especially such a device used in a microphone.

A sample of piezoelectric material that is attached to electrodes and mounted near some other vibrating element; the piezoelectric sample is used to excite resonant frequencies in the second material.

A reference to the generation of electricity or of electric polarity in dielectric crystals which are subjected to mechanical stress, or the generation of stress in such crystals subjected to an applied voltage.

1. The ability of crystals to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress.
2. The generation of electricity or of electric polarity in dielectric crystals subjected to mechanical stress, or the generation of stress in such crystals subjected to an applied voltage.
3. Electric currents generated by pressure upon certain crystals; such as, quartz, mica, and calcite.
4. Etymology, Piezoelectricity is derived from Greek piezein, "to squeeze" or "to press".

A field that aims to develop self-powered devices that do not require replaceable power supplies; such as, batteries.

A certain type of piezoelectric material can covert energy at a 100 percent increase when manufactured at a very small size; in this case, about 21 nanometers in thickness.

Many high-tech devices contain components that are measured in nanometers, which is a microscopic unit of measurement representing one-billionth of a meter; a human hair is about 100,000 nanometers wide.

Piezoelectrics are materials; usually, crystals or ceramics, which generate voltage when a form of mechanical stress is applied. They demonstrate a change in their physical properties when an electric field is applied.

Discovered by French scientists in the 1880's, piezoelectrics are not a new concept. They were first used in sonar devices during World War I.

Today they can be found in microphones and quartz watches. Cigarette lighters in automobiles also contain piezoelectrics. Pressing down the lighter button causes impact on a piezoelectric crystal which then produces enough voltage to create a spark and ignite the gas.

While advances in piezoelectrics applications are progressing, piezoelectric work at the nanoscale is a newer endeavor with different and complex aspects to consider; especially, because the size of a hair is much more pliable and susceptible to change from its surrounding environment than larger kinds of materials.

More research is being done to accomplish a self-powering cell phone that never needs to be charged because it will be able to convert sound waves produced by the user into the energy it needs to keep running without batteries.

Describing the formation of minerals largely under the influence of pressure.

A small, well-defined indentation, depression, or pit on the surface of a meteorite. Also known as a regmaglypt or pezograph.

A plastic form molded by the tongue, lips, and cheeks in edentulous areas of the mouth.

An instrument for measuring blood pressure.

Maganetism resulting from mechanical stress or the reverse effect.

1. A system for testing piezoelectric materials.
2. Any of several instruments for measuring the pressure of a fluid or the compressibility of a substance when subjected to such a pressure.
3. A device used to measure fluid pressure, particularly a device inside a vessel that contains gas or liquid.
4. A device that measure the compressibility of materials, especially a device that measures the variation in volume of a material that is subjected to hydrostatic pressure.
5. A gauge connected with a water main to show the pressure at that point.
6. A device used for the measurements of hydraulic heads of groundwater in aquifers.

1. The measurement of pressure or compressibility.
2. The sensitivity of the skin to pressure.

A polymer film that can convert heat and pressure into electricity.