What is Quartz clock?

It is a clock which makes use of the piezoelectric properties of quartz. A quartz crystal has a natural frequency of vibration which depends upon its size and shape. If such a crystal is included in an electronic circuit which applies an oscillating electric field to its opposite faces at a frequency very close to its natural frequency, the entire circuit will resonate or vibrate at the natural frequency of the crystal. Moreover, this frequency of vibration will remain constant over considerable time. In a clock or a wrist-watch, this constant frequency of vibration is converted into electric pulses to drive a motor which in turn drives a gear train to operate the hands or alternatively, the pulses activate a digital display.

Quartz clocks are much more accurate than spring or pendulum clocks. They may accumulate an error of a few tens of seconds in one year. They are used in computers and microprocessors.