Hand Crank Flashlight
Equipment: A flashlight containing a coil and a rotating magnet.
What it does: The flashlight lights up when the hand crank is squeezed.
Concepts Demonstrated: Generation of electricity by mechanical energy.
Classroom assembly:
- Repeatedly squeeze the hand crank on the flashlight. The magnet will rotate and the flashlight will light up.
Cautions: None.
Setup Time: Short.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Visibility: High. The apparatus is small but the light is visible from the back of a large lecture hall when the room lights are dimmed.
Related demonstrations:
References:
Original Construction: Purchased.
Disclaimer: All demonstrations are posted for the convenience and benefit of faculty and staff in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University and are not intended for outside use. The author(s) assume no responsibility or liability for the use of information contained on this site. Warnings and precautionary measures listed on this site assume normal operation of equipment and are not inclusive. Demonstrations may pose a significant hazard and can, in some instances, result in death; reasonable safety precautions must be taken. Demonstrations should be performed by qualified individuals only.
Prepared by Jeff Rudd, 1999
Revised by Laura Schmidt, June 2007