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EEVblog #646 - Gravity Detection Using A Frequency Counter!

EEVblog · 67.6K views · 2014-07-30 · 9:54

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Overview

Dave Jones of EEVblog demonstrates that a frequency counter can detect gravity through the 2g tipover effect on quartz crystal oscillators. He shows the reading shift as the instrument's orientation changes.

On Hacker News

HN links it as a hands-on demonstration that oscillator frequency depends on orientation relative to gravity.

Discussed on HN; no positive recommendation is recorded in this export · HN mentions 2014–2023

Topics

Electronics & circuit designEveryday physics & science demos
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frequency counterquartztipover effectmetrologyeevblog

What people said

formerly_proven · 2023-11 · Reference

> Typical crystal acceleration sensitivities will range from about 1 x 10-10 per g for specially constructed precision SC-cut and AT-cut resonators to the order of 10-7 per g for tuning fork resonators. [LINK] Demonstration: [VIDEO]

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gugagore · 2019-02 · Reference

Maybe if you can show me that if you flick an RC oscillator you can detect it, then I'll believe it's a silly distinction. Or if RC oscillators can detect gravity: [VIDEO] I'm also curious what it would mean to you for two things to be doing "fundamentally different" things. Do you believe in the difference between a mechanical oscillator and an electrical oscillator? Mechanical oscillators like a spring/mass exchange energy between kinetic and electrical energy (a moving mass and a strained material). An RC oscillator exchanges energy between elements that store energy in an electric field and a magnetic field. That feels fundamentally different even in a four-fundamental-forces kind of manner.

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SamReidHughes · 2019-01 · Reference

The Zenith Defy Lab watch has accuracy of -0.5/+0.5 seconds per day, which matches and/or beats quartz watches (that aren't thermocompensated). Rolexes, which have a classical movement design, are pretty close, promising -2/+2 spd. Quartz watches' accuracy also varies depending on orientation, for what it's worth. (It has an effect on the order of 1-2 seconds per year.) Related EEVBlog link: [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by EEVblog, played through YouTube.

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