The playground swing and the physics of perfect timing
How quartz crystals keep the modern world on time
From acoustic instruments to quantum technology
YOUR GOAL
Master of Good vibrations and the science of resonators
007skaty Adjusting a variable capacitor matches a radio's frequency to specific electromagnetic waves, filtering out noise using technology Marconi
007skaty A color-coded vector illustration shows the microscopic quartz resonator inside a watch.
007skaty Tap the vibrating crystal to discover how quartz resonators keep the modern world on time.
Quartz watches: A standard quartz wristwatch crystal vibrates exactly 32,768 times every second to keep perfect time.
The generation of an electric charge in certain crystals when they are subjected to mechanical stress. In 1927, Warren Marrison leveraged this property to build the first highly accurate crystal clock.
What property allows a crystal to generate an electrical charge when physically squeezed?
007skaty Cavity magnetrons generate the high-frequency waves used in microwave cooking.
What component combination is used in a radio's LC circuit to tune into specific frequencies?
What device, invented in 1940, uses resonant cavities to generate microwaves for radar and cooking?