Lessons -+Energy+conversion

Lessons on energy conversion could be set up to illustrate the concepts of conversion between electrical energy, heat energy, and mechanical energy through the use of many hobby-type [|generators]/[|dynamos], [|motors], and various everyday energy sources (some of which are not often associated with electricity production). These energy sources and generators include water flowing over water wheels, air blowing on wind turbines, people turning hand cranks, light falling on solar panels, or even hot/cold heat sources driving [|Stirling engines]. In the classroom, the examples mentioned above would be smaller than those used in electricity-generating power plants, but would do the exact same thing, except on a smaller scale. These sources could be wired to a light bulb or other electrical device to demonstrate the conversion of kinetic/heat/mechanical/light energy into electrical energy that could be used to power useful devices.

These illustrations would be very vivid. The difficulty lies in the time/money/energy needed to set up such a demonstration for classroom use. Getting the appropriate parts, and figuring out how to put it all together can be difficult. The list below gives some examples of parts that are commercially available to anyone, though some are rather expensive. However, these should be good starting places to find similar items for those interested. It might also be that certain parts could be obtained around the house or from a local hardware store. There may even be some parts locked away in school supply rooms that no one knows about.

Hand crank electrical generators: [|Edmund Scientific], [|School Outfitters], [|Home Science Tools], [|Brookstone]. Stirling engines: [|Stirling Engine], [|Edmund Scientific], [|Edmund Scientific].

An example is in the works for combining some of these parts. When it is completed, pictures and descriptions will be added to this page.