Thermobile, Memory Wire demo
Memory Wire with Butterfly
The nitinol wire windmill

 

Code Number: 4F30.60

Demo Title: Nitinol Wire - Memory Wire

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Crystal Formation - Crystal States

Area of Study: Thermodynamics

Equipment: 

Thermobile, Memory wire with green bead ends, 'ICE' memory wire.

Procedure:

All of these wire will work if dipped in water that has been heated to about 160 degrees F. or 75 degrees C. Lower the brass wheel of the thermobile into the heated water and the wire will try to straighten out which makes the thermobile turn. Bend the green beaded wire to any shape you want and then dip it into the hot water and watch it straighten out. Bend the 'ICE' wire to a different shape and when it is dipped into the hot water it will regain its 'ICE' shape.

The nitinol wire windmill also works by immersing the lower pulley into hot water. 

References:

  • William Kopp, Arthur Schmidt, Ed McNeil, "The Icemobile", TPT, Vol. 23, # 6, Sept. 1985, p. 375 - 376.
  • H. Richard Crane, "More on the Thermobile: Power from Wire that Remembers", TPT, Vol. 23, # 4, Apr. 1985, p. 238.
  • Ed McNeil, Norbert Zarumba, "A Mystery Heat (?) Engine", TPT, Vol. 22, # 6, Sept. 1984, p. 400 -  401.
  • A. D. Johnson and J. L. McNichols, Jr., "Comments on 'Demonstration Solid State Engine' [Am. J. Phys. 52, 1144 (1984)]", AJP, Vol. 54, #8, Aug. 1986, p. 745.
  • R. D. Spence and Michael J. Harrison, "Demonstration Solid State Engine", AJP, Vol. 52, #12, Dec. 1984, p. 1144.
  • Jearl Walker,  "Wire That "Remembers" Its Shape Is Put to Work Running an Engine",  The Amateur Scientist, May, 1986.
4F30.60 - Nitinol Wire - Memory Wire

 

4F30.60b - Memory Wire - Butterfly