Thankyou, it seems so obvious now you have explained. Regard sJustin On 28 March 2014 17:55, Isaac Marino Bavaresco wrote: > Em 28/03/2014 02:41, Justin Richards escreveu: > > When a mechanical force is applied to a crystal causing it to distort, > the > > crystal produces an electric field. > > > > This can be seen as a spark in the case of a piezoelectric lighter when= a > > hammer strikes the xtal. > > > > My question, does the xtal loose anything of itself each time it > releases a > > spark. As the spark is a stream of electrons, makes me think that the > > crystal is loosing electrons. > > > > However, intuitively, I think the it is not reducing or decaying and is > > similar to introducing a magnetic field to a coil. A current is induce= d > in > > the winding. > > > > So then I ask the question, is the permanent magnet becoming less of a > > magnet each time it is used to induce a current in the winding. > > > > I am tempted to think the magnet does loose its magnetism but not sure. > > > > What say ye. > > > > Regard sJustin > > > When struck, the crystal becomes a bi-pole and the electron current just > circulates across the negative pole -> wiring -> spark gap -> wiring -> > positive pole circuit. > > The same for the coil. The energy added by the impact or magnetic field > moves the electrons, nothing is created or destroyed. > > > Isaac > > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .