Xa ikristale ye-quartz ikhutshaziwe ngoxinzelelo lomatshini kwicala elithile, i-polarization iyenzeka ngaphakathi kwayo, kwaye iintlawulo ze-polarity ezichaseneyo zibonakala kumphezulu wayo. Emva kokuba amandla angaphandle asusiwe, i-crystal ibuyela kwimeko yayo engathathi hlangothi. Nangona kunjalo, xa ulwalathiso lwamandla angaphandle lutshintsha, i-polarity yeentlawulo nayo iyatshintsha. Le nto yaziwa ngokuba yi-piezoelectric effect ye-quartz crystal.
Ngokwahlukileyo, xa i-quartz crystal ixhomekeke kwintsimi yombane etshintshanayo, idlula ukuguqulwa komatshini kwindlela ethile, eyaziwa ngokuba yi-vibration yomatshini. Emva kokuba indawo yombane esetyenzisiweyo iyanyamalala, le deformation iyanyamalala. Le nto yaziwa ngokuba yi-inverse piezoelectric effect, ekwabizwa ngokuba yi-electrostrictive effect.
Iicrystals ezibonisa umphumo we-piezoelectric zibizwa ngokuba yi-piezoelectric crystals, kwaye iikristale zequartz ngumzekelo obalaseleyo. Enyanisweni, umphumo we-piezoelectric wafunyanwa okokuqala kwiikristale ze-quartz.