Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello fellow science mates, I do know your eloquent understandings of science. Science is ubiquitous and is nonetheless related to my question. In this manner, I have one detailed question that is based on physical properties acting upon an certain substance that I will describe later. Subsequently, My question is as follows after this break.

In the field of piezoelectric devices, I have had an unvecoming situation that needs an criterion filled as well as an respective question answered. I have begun all scientific establishments for the foundation of my project but one question remains perdominately affecting my progress. This questions is how in the world will I be able to extract or purchase/acquire some of these piezoeectric 'gemstones' in scientific words?

Please refer your answers in an respective manner describing where and how I can purcahse or acquire this product. The resultant of your answers will hopefully incorporate some necessary factors such as my budget, student state, and my resident location (Ontario, Canada). I will be pleased at all of your answerd s they will add to my knowldge base.

Thank you all in advance for the great answers I hope you will submit. I forgot to state but I am currently in the intermediate grades...More specifically grade 8.

Hi,

I think you are asking what minerals have piezo electric properties.

If that is your question, probably the most common mineral with this property is crystalline quartz:

http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photoqtz.html

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:P ... _materials

In the future you might be more likely to get good answers if you can express your question more simply.
Usually it is possible to ask a question in one sentence.

Barrett Tomlinson

A lot of crystals are piezoelectric to one degree or another. Quartz, as previously mentioned, is a commonly used one, especially for watches.

Tourmaline is much more strongly piezoelectric (typically). Actually, even cane sugar is supposed to be slightly piezoelectric.

You can find particular crystals online at a variety of sources, depending on exactly what crystal you want. I suggest you google for the crystal you want and check out the results (one possible source near you is a distributor for a piezoelectric crystal manufacturer, for example: http://www.ilsiamerica.com/rep_dis/na_l ... canada.htm).

It might be more fun (and interesting), though, to make your own. This website (http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/0 ... ystal.html) for example, shows a fairly simple process using common materials.