Can Quartz Crystals Convert Heat to AC Electricity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether quartz crystals can convert heat energy into alternating current (AC) electrical energy. It explores the properties of quartz crystals, particularly their piezoelectric characteristics, and considers hypothetical scenarios involving gas interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Duordi questions if quartz crystals can convert heat energy to AC electrical energy, noting their use in time regulation.
  • Bobbywhy asserts that quartz crystals are piezoelectric and convert mechanical energy, not heat energy, into electrical energy.
  • Duordi proposes a scenario where a quartz crystal is immersed in a gas that strikes it, suggesting this could lead to continuous electrical current generation from the motion of gas molecules.
  • Bobbywhy challenges Duordi's hypothesis, explaining that the random impacts from gas molecules would not produce the necessary directional deformation in the crystal to generate voltage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus. While Bobbywhy provides a technical explanation of piezoelectricity, Duordi's hypothesis about heat energy conversion remains unaccepted, indicating a disagreement on the feasibility of the proposed mechanism.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the specific conditions under which piezoelectric effects occur and the assumptions about the interactions between gas molecules and the crystal.

duordi134
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Quartz crystals are used in clocks to regulate time measurement.
Does a quartz crystal convert heat energy to AC electrical energy?

Duordi
 
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duordi134 said:
Quartz crystals are used in clocks to regulate time measurement.
Does a quartz crystal convert heat energy to AC electrical energy?

Duordi

Duordi, Welcome to Physics Forums!

Quartz crystals do not convert heat energy to AC electrical energy. They are piezoelectric, which means they convert mechanical energy (say vibration) into electrical energy. Interestingly, they work in the reverse, also. When an electrical signal, say a voltage, is applied, the crystal deforms mechanically.

You can learn all about them if you want to. May I suggest you begin with these two sites?
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/oscillator/crystal.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_oscillator

Cheers,
Bobbywhy
 


So if a crystal was immersed in a gas which would strike the crystal every so often
causing it to remain vibrating then the crystal would constantly provide an electric current.

This may not be a useful condition because of its minute capacity but it would be a direct conversion of heat energy (motion of the gas molecules) to electrical energy.

durodi
 
durodi, Interesting hypothesis, but I don’t think it works the way you propose. Did you visit the two sites I recommended? There the physical deformation of a crystal and the resultant charge generation is clearly described.

A quartz (piezoelectric) crystal must be deformed along a particular axis in a well-defined direction in order to produce a voltage.

A quartz crystal immersed in a hot gas will be bombarded by rapidly moving molecules. But they will impact on the crystal from all directions, and therefore exerting a force on the crystal in all directions. The result will not be any vibration, deformation, or voltage generated. So there would be no conversion of heat energy to electrical energy.

Nice try, durodi. I encourage you to continue your searching. This is how new discoveries are made.

Cheers,
Bobbywhy
 

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