In 1880, Pierre and his older brother Paul-Jacques (1856–1941) demonstrated that an electric potential was generated when crystals were compressed, i.e., piezoelectricity. To aid this work they invented the piezoelectric quartz electrometer. The following year they demonstrated the reverse effect: that crystals could be made to deform when subject to an electric field.<ref name="Brothers" /> Almost all digital electronic circuits now rely on this in the form of crystal oscillators. In subsequent work on magnetism Pierre Curie defined the Curie scale. This work also involved delicate equipment – balances, electrometers, etc.Nobel Lectures, Physics 1901–1921, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1967.
In 1880 Pierre and his older brother Paul-Jacques (1856–1941) demonstrated that an electric potential was generated when crystals were compressed ie piezoelectricity To aid this work they invented the piezoelectric quartz electrometer The following year they demonstrated the reverse effect that crystals could be made to deform when subject to an electric field<ref name="Brothers" /> Almost all digital electronic circuits now rely on this in the form of crystal oscillators In subsequent work on magnetism Pierre Curie defined the Curie scale This work also involved delicate equipment – balances electrometers etcNobel Lectures Physics 1901–1921 Elsevier Publishing Company Amsterdam 1967