We Can Figure This Out.org
Virtual Lab: SPM Piezoelectric Crystals
University of Virginia
             
 
© 2003-Present, John C. Bean
 
Electric fields drive positive ions in one direction, and negative ions in the other. However, these ions are bonded together - they can?t just run away from one another! Instead the electric field will cause the bonds to bend. With the electric field shown here, positive ions pull upward and the negative ions pull downward. This bends the bonds, compressing the "Z" shaped assembly.

Let's record this effect in the table at the right.

 
Last Scene
Next Scene