Recently in class we had the opportunity to learn how to create a working generator. We started off this unit by simply asking what a generator is. I found out that the description of generator is a “dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity“. So from there we asked ourselves out How we can catch rentable energy in nature. Our teacher showed us an example of a hand crank generator.

It was interesting to see how such small turns and little power could generate one or more LED lights. Then we were put in groups my group consisted of Izzy, Kyle and Will. My teammates then went on a field study to a water dam however I was away for this aspect of the project. Then it was time to start generating ideas (haha). We first wanted to create a water wheel, and we planned on that. We created the wheel and even made a house like box but when it was time to put it in the water it fell apart. So it was onto the next idea!

Our teacher had shown us an example of a generator at the beginning of a flashlight that lit up when magnets moved back and fourth in a container while the container was wrapped many times in wire. So to be different as the rest of the class did water wheels we decided to take on this challenge. And what a challenge it was! We came up with two drafts of this and then we decided that since it had to be an environmental charge it would work if we attached the flashlight to a mountain bike. These would work because as you are going down the hill the trail will move your bike this causing the magnets to move and turn on the LED light. We also had to create an ad so here is ours:

Overall this was an interesting project and I did learn about generators.