Which natural crystal is a piezoelectric material used in some ultrasound devices?

Which natural crystal is a piezoelectric material used in some ultrasound devices?

• A. Quartz
• B. Lead zirconate titanate
• C. Barium titanate
• D. Piezoceramic composite

Answer: (A)

Piezoelectric materials in ultrasound convert electrical energy into mechanical vibrations to create sound and then convert echoes back into electrical signals. A natural crystal with this property is quartz. Quartz crystals are stable and predictable, making them suitable for precise, resonant vibrations in some ultrasound devices. The other options are not natural crystals: lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate are synthetic piezoelectric ceramics, and a piezoceramic composite is a ceramic–polymer combination. Modern devices often use these ceramics for higher coupling and bandwidth, but quartz remains the natural crystal example.

Piezoelectric materials in ultrasound convert electrical energy into mechanical vibrations to create sound and then convert echoes back into electrical signals. A natural crystal with this property is quartz. Quartz crystals are stable and predictable, making them suitable for precise, resonant vibrations in some ultrasound devices. The other options are not natural crystals: lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate are synthetic piezoelectric ceramics, and a piezoceramic composite is a ceramic–polymer combination. Modern devices often use these ceramics for higher coupling and bandwidth, but quartz remains the natural crystal example.