On 25/10/2016 9:35 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 25/10/16 21:16, wrote:
On Tuesday, 25 October 2016 20:22:55 UTC+1, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
On 25/10/16 18:33, tabbypurr wrote:
On Tuesday, 25 October 2016 18:14:18 UTC+1, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
On 25/10/16 17:15, Michael Chare wrote:

Would an elecrical oscillator such as the small ones shown in this
picture mind which way round they are installed?

http://tinyurl.com/jhfjnhd

If it's a quartz crystal, no.

If it's a whole circuit to make an oscillator, yes of course, it will
have a +ve and -ve, and generally an output too.

that photo is not of 'oscillators' of course. It's of crystals.
They are
*part* of an oscillator.

2 terminal oscillators are certainly possible. But they're just
crystals.



I've never seen a crystal oscillate on its own.

FWLIW I expect they do, moving back and forth due to environmental
vibration. With high Q they can't build up much movement, but it's not
zero.


NT

Bells don't ring without bell ringers.


A bell is designed to ring at a set of frequencies. A bell will have a
'natural' frequency. Every air molecule that hits it will depart a force
and the bell, if it is to make a sound at all due to the air, will do so
at it's 'natural' frequency. Because you don't hear it does not mean it
is not making the sound at all, at any level.

Nothing is still.