Energy transformations

Prove that generators aren't a one-way street!

Difficulty:
Danger:
Duration:
15 minutes

Safety

  • Carefully review the general safety advice on the back of the box cover before starting the experiment.
  • Read the "Working with Batteries" section of the safety guidelines carefully before proceeding.
  • Disassemble the setup after the experiment.

Step-by-step instructions

Connect your wind turbine to the batteries. The blades of the turbine start to rotate! Now the turbine is working as a fan, and consumes electricity instead of producing it.

Disposal

  • Dispose of solid waste together with household garbage.
  • Dispose of used batteries in accordance with local regulations.

Scientific description

Energy can take different forms, such as motion, light, or heat. Devices that convert energy of any form into electrical energy are called generators. Some of them can work in the opposite direction, and convert electrical energy into another form of energy. Humans take great advantage of this potential. Fans cool computers of all types to keep them from overheating. Peltier cells (another name for thermoelectric generators) produce warm or cold water in water dispensers and chill food in portable fridges.