pietsosähköiselle

pietsosähköiselle is a Finnish term referring to something exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress. Conversely, these materials will deform when an electric field is applied across them.

Materials that display this phenomenon are known as piezoelectric materials. When a piezoelectric material is squeezed or stretched, its constituent atoms are displaced from their symmetrical equilibrium positions. This displacement creates an electric dipole in each unit cell, and the sum of these dipoles over the entire crystal produces a macroscopic electric polarization. This polarization manifests as a voltage across the material.

The inverse piezoelectric effect, where an electric field causes deformation, is equally important and is used in actuators and transducers. When an electric field is applied to a piezoelectric material, the electric dipoles within the material align, causing the material to expand or contract. The magnitude of this deformation is proportional to the applied electric field.

Applications of materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect are widespread. They are commonly found in sensors such as pressure sensors, accelerometers, and microphones, where mechanical stress is converted into an electrical signal. In reverse, they are used in actuators for precise positioning, ultrasonic transducers for imaging and cleaning, and in igniters for gas stoves and lighters. The term pietsosähköiselle directly highlights the electrical manifestation of this mechanical-electrical coupling.