How a quartz watch works

The amazing everyday wristwatch: We never think about it, but only because engineers have made it so reliable and durable that we don't
need to. At its heart lies a tiny tuning fork made of the mineral quartz. In this video Bill takes apart a cheap watch and shows extreme
close-ups of the actually tunings fork. He explains how the piezoelectric effect of quartz lies at the heart of the watch's
operation.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bill Hammack
• quartz crystal
• watch
• engineering
• University of Illinois U
• piezoelectric effect

[TheRareCode]

When will we see Series 4? I know you were planning on fall 2011, but is it going to be summer 2012 instead?

[engineerguyvideo]

@TheRareCode Good question ... it should be ... March! We get page proofs of the book this week (the companion volume for the series) and some of the animation is being finished this week also. We have only one more to shoot, although all need to go through final editing and other post-production ... its my main focus!

[StRoRo]

Have you thought of writing a book consisting these short snippets of engineering?

[engineerguyvideo]

@StRoRo Kind of ... for series #4 we are writing a companion volume that goes into more detail for those who want it .... not a textbook but instead something as approachable as we try to make the videos.

[charleswolfman]

I love the videos Bill, reminds me of an old BBC Television show called "The Secret Life Of Machines", hosted by Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrod, it was a bit of a tongue in cheek look at tech, and although a bit dated by todays standards (it was filmed back in the 80's), was very informative and entertaining nontheless.

[engineerguyvideo]

@charleswolfman I always loved that show. In fact my viewers often mention it to me. Its an interesting question whether one could survive in this era with the leisurely pace - which I liked! - of their show ...

[engineerguyvideo]

@cpmc1 Indeed yes. Now when watches were purely mechanical there was a difference ... an excellent book to read is David Landes Revolution in Time ... I recommend it without reservation!

[TheRareCode]

@engineerguyvideo Good to hear! I love the project!

[arlenemacias1]

Good one 

[Mjolle]

Subscribed! I'm in the market to buy a watch, and the general concensus is that mechanical watches are superiour due to the feeling of it. Now I feel I needn't feel as though a quartz watch is any less special - they are just not as expensive.

[RauL8604]

After watching two tutorial videos, I am now subscribed. From Charleston AFB SC, thank you Mr. Hammack! You make every day apparatuses more understandable and enjoyable, one video at a time.

[smokeyjoe9661]

more videos please

[ahmedmahay1]

Really helpful...i have always wondered about this thing and now i am clear...thanks bro!!

[jerryg50]

He is very simplified with the crysta. The crystal is actually in a resonant feedback look with an oscillator circuit. You cannot put DC from a battery directly across the crystal. The oscillator circuit goes in to a resonance and thus puts out the frequency. The oscillator is slightly fine tunable to tweak for greatest accuracy. The crytal circuit is loaded in the feedback loop to cause some distortions in the feedback signal. This loading is tunable with a trimmer capacitor, or by software.

[mahela1993]

Superb video!