TED-Ed: How to squeeze electricity out of crystals - Ashwini Bharathula

The video explains piezoelectricity, a phenomenon where certain materials generate electricity when mechanical stress is applied. Discovered by Pierre and Jacques Curie in 1880, piezoelectricity was first used in sonar during World War I. The video details how piezoelectric materials work, focusing on their atomic structure and charge distribution. It highlights various materials, including quartz, DNA, and synthetic options, and discusses applications in watches, medical imaging, and energy generation. The potential for future uses, such as powering devices through movement, is also explored.

Who were the scientists that discovered the piezoelectric effect?

• Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei

• Marie Curie and Louis Pasteur

• Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie

• Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr

What characteristic of a material's atomic structure makes it piezoelectric?

• Lack of a center of symmetry

• Random arrangement of atoms

• Presence of a center of symmetry

• Symmetrical distribution of atoms

How does a quartz crystal generate electricity when compressed?

• By creating a net charge imbalance

• By absorbing light energy

• By increasing its temperature

• By aligning its magnetic fields

Which of the following is NOT an application of piezoelectric materials?

• Medical imaging

• Ink jet printers

• Watches

• Solar panels

What potential future application of piezoelectricity is mentioned in the video?

• Producing solar power

• Generating wind energy

• Charging devices through walking

• Powering electric cars