Definition
A hard, crystalline mineral made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) that exhibits the piezoelectric effect, meaning it produces a small electric voltage when mechanically stressed and physically deforms when a voltage is applied across it. This property makes precisely cut quartz crystals useful as stable frequency references in electronic oscillators and timing circuits.
Plain English
A natural crystal that vibrates at a very steady rate when electricity is applied to it. Because the rate is so consistent, it is used to keep accurate time and to set the operating frequencies of radios and electronic instruments.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electrical and avionics discussions, especially when describing radios, clocks, timers, and electronic instruments that need stable timing.
Derivation
From the German Quarz, originally a miners' term for the mineral. The aviation relevance comes from its piezoelectric behavior, discovered in the late 1800s, which made quartz the standard for accurate frequency control in radios and clocks.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate timekeeping and stable electronic frequencies support navigation timing, flight logging, and reliable radio communications.
Intuition Check
Do not think of quartz only as a watch label or countertop material. In this context, it means the actual crystal used inside electronic equipment to create a steady electrical timing signal.
Example Sentence 1
The radio's transmitter uses a quartz crystal to lock its output on the selected frequency.
Example Sentence 2
Avionics systems rely on quartz crystals to maintain stable frequencies for navigation radios.