Piezoelectric Effect – UPSC Prelims

Piezoelectric Effect:
  • Piezoelectric Effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress.
  • One of the unique characteristics of the piezoelectric effect is that it is reversible, meaning that materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect (the generation of electricity when stress is applied) also exhibit the converse piezoelectric effect (the generation of stress when an electric field is applied).
  • The piezoelectric effect is very useful within many applications that involve the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalances, and ultra-fine focusing of optical assemblies. It also has its use, acting as the ignition source for cigarette lighters.
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