A piezoelectric buzzer produces sound through the phenomenon of piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is a property exhibited by certain materials where they generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress or produce mechanical stress when an electric charge is applied to them. This unique behavior allows piezoelectric devices like buzzers to convert electrical energy into mechanical vibrations, which then produce sound waves.
The key components of a piezoelectric buzzer are a piezoelectric crystal or ceramic disk and a driver circuit. When an alternating current (AC) voltage is applied to the piezoelectric material, it causes the material to vibrate at the same frequency as the applied voltage. The driver circuit rapidly switches the voltage polarity, resulting in rapid back-and-forth vibrations of the piezoelectric material.
These vibrations create mechanical pressure waves in the surrounding air, which are perceived by our ears as sound. The frequency of the sound produced is determined by the frequency of the AC voltage applied to the piezoelectric material. By controlling the frequency of the voltage, the buzzer can produce different tones or pitches.
Piezoelectric buzzers have several advantages, including their small size, low power consumption, and simple construction. They are commonly used in various applications, such as in electronic devices, alarms, timers, and as sound indicators in various electronic systems.