What is Quartz clock?
[[Image:Clock lock.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A quartz clock]] A '''quartz clock''' is a [[clock]] that uses an electronic [[Oscillation|oscillator]] that is regulated by a [[quartz]] crystal to keep time. This [[crystal]] oscillator creates a signal with very precise [[frequency]], so that quartz clocks are at least an order of magnitude more accurate than good mechanical clocks. Generally, some form of digital logic counts the cycles of this signal and provides a numeric [[time]] display, usually in units of hours, minutes, and seconds. Since the 1970s, they have become the most widely used timekeeping technology. === How it works === Quartz clocks work by [[Piezoelectricity]]. They apply [[electricity]] to a quartz crystal. This causes the crystal to vibrate in a cycle very quickly. A circuit in the clock then counts these cycles, and once it reaches a certain number, it turns on a [[Electric motor|motor]] to move the hands or change the display on the clock. In most clocks and watches, the crystal goes through a full cycle 32,768 times every second. This can vary due to parts of the crystal being different, this generally is not intended and causes the clock to drift from the actual time. Another reason that a quartz clock can use a different speed is simply due to differences from one brand of clock to another. === Uses === Quartz clocks are used almost everywhere because they are cheap and accurate. They are commonly found in [[Watch|watches]], [[Clock|wall clocks]], appliances, [[Stopwatch|stopwatches]], alarm clocks, [[Mobile phone|cell phones]], [[Computer|computers]], [[Microwave oven|microwave ovens]], radios, and more. Almost every electronic device which needs to keep time for whatever reason has a quartz clock in it. === History and Development === The piezoelectric properties of quartz were discovered by [[Jacques Curie|Jacques]] and [[Pierre Curie]] in 1880, but it wouldn't be until 1912 when the first [[vacuum tube oscillator]] was invented<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Marrison|first=Warren A.|date=194