The Gravity Light

Description:  The Gravity Light converts potential energy that is stored in a weight into light. The principles involved in this design are very similar to the principles in a cuckoo clock, with the potential energy of the weight being converted to solar energy rather than kinetic energy. Gravity Lights can replace kerosene lights in the developing world with a safe alternative. The phenomenon can be used to illustrate the conversion of potential gravitational energy into other forms of energy. More importantly it conveys the message of sustainability and social responsibility.

Web Resource:  The Gravity Light - Wikipedia, The Gravity Light Foundation

Video sponsored by Shell - Tweet this Video: http://bit.ly/1TYOqjn Click here to learn more about Gravity Light! http://gravitylight.org/ Click here if you're interested in subscribing: http://bit.ly/Subscribe2SED ⇊More info! ⇊ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you like what I do and want to support Smarter Every Day on Patreon, here's the link: http://www.patreon.com/smartereveryday Smarter Every Day Instagram: http://instagram.com/smartereveryday Twitter: http://twitter.com/smartereveryday www.facebook.com/SmarterEveryDay THIS IS GENIUS.

Amazing Rube Goldberg Machines

Description:  Rube Goldberg machines are named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg who drew complicated steps involved in doing a fairly simple task (like pouring milk in a glass). Students can study these machines, or build their own, to show how energy can be converted through a series of interactions. In lower elementary classes they might be shown or built to show how pushes or pulls can change the motion of objects. As they move through school they should start to identify specific collisions, interactions, and conversions of energy.

Web Resources:  Rube Goldberg Machines - Wikipedia

http://www.2dhouse.com/rubegoldbergmachines.php - This was a fun short Rube Goldberg Machine we produced in house. Mostly an experiment but definitely quite interesting and very rewarding to create. We hope you enjoy :).

From the OK Go album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" available at http://www.okgo.net/store Director: James Frost, OK Go and Syyn Labs. Producer: Shirley Moyers. The official video for the recorded version of "This Too Shall Pass" off the album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky".

Amazing Slinky Tricks

Description:  The Slinky was invented by Richard James, an engineer, who was working with springs to support and stabilize equipment on a ship. Simple slinky tricks show how forces (pushes and pulls) change the direction of an object. Students can design a set of stairs, or obstacles, that the Slinky can navigate. In the secondary science classroom it can be used to investigate inertia, oscillations, and Hooke's law. This phenomenon can also be used to investigate wave properties.

Web Resource:  Slinky - Wikipedia

I guess this is how you're supposed to play with a slinky「(°ヘ°) It's pretty ridiculous the tricks that you can do with this classic children's toy. // Relive your childhood and play with a slinky. PICK ONE UP HERE! → http://amzn.to/2mVd613 // Kuma Shirts→ http://bit.ly/KumaShirt // Subscribe→ http://bit.ly/kumaf1lms // More vids → http://bit.ly/kumavids Congrats to the winners for the Ringdama giveaway!

Building the slinky escalator for never ending slinky stair traversal. http://woodgears.ca/toys/slinky.html

Coupled Pendulum

Description:  The coupled pendulum can be created with either string or a spring connecting the two pendulums. With each swing energy is transferred from one pendulum to the other. If the pendulums both have the same length one pendulum comes to a complete stop before alternating motion. This phenomenon can be used to show balanced and unbalanced forces, how motion can be used to predict future motion, and the conservation of energy.

Web Resource:  L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum

Coupled Oscillators, or pendulums, are demonstrated by Professor Roger Bowley as part of little Easter series. He's using creme eggs, of course. More eggsperiemnts at http://www.sixtysymbols.com/eggs/

Giant Newton's Cradle

Description:  The coupled pendulum can be created with either string or a spring connecting the two pendulums. With each swing energy is transferred from one pendulum to the other. If the pendulums both have the same length one pendulum comes to a complete stop before alternating motion. This phenomenon can be used to show balanced and unbalanced forces, how motion can be used to predict future motion, and the conservation of energy.

Web Resources:  Giant Newton’s Cradle Website, Wikipedia article

Add me on Facebook: Click the LIKE button on Facebook to add me (http://www.facebook.com/brusspup) Thank you to http://www.giantnewtonscradle.com/ for loaning me this unit. Here are some stats for the unit seen in the video: - 17"w x 14"h x 10"d - Laser Cut Aircraft Aluminum Frame - 2.5" Nickel Plated Chrome Steel Spheres - Galvanized Aircraft Cable - Total Weight 10.96 lbs Check out their site to see this product and more.

The Drinking Bird

Description:  The drinking bird is a toy heat engine.  The source of energy in this phenomenon is a mystery to most students.  It is said that Albert Einstein and his wife Elsa were fascinated with this toy when they visited Shanghai in the 1920's. 

Web Resources:  The Engineering of the Drinking Bird, The Drinking Bird - Wikipedia
 

Very innovative creation, the bird will "drink" the water and keep moving. If you keep refilling the water, it will run forever! Experimented with one cup of water, it runs for 3 days non-stop until the water drop below the level it can dip on.