Investigations using piezo film
A. G. Bagnall · Physics Education · 1989
Discusses some investigations using the Kynar piezo film provided as a promotional item in Physics Education. Each sample of film is 28 mu m thick, metallised on each side and shaped so that electrical contacts can be made. The film exhibits piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. In order to examine the properties of the film it was connected to a Hameg 205-2 CRO, which has storage facilities. The piezoelectric effect was readily observed on the 0 to 1 V range. In subsequent experiments a 741 op-amp was connected in the circuit to give a *10 amplification. A permanent record of the experimental results was made using a variety of techniques. The readings were recorded digitally on an Apple II microcomputer using a 10-bit A/D convertor. This enabled the experimental results to be displayed using high-resolution graphics. The readings were displayed by the microcomputer.