5K40.83 - Bicycle Generator

Code Number:
5K40.83
Demo Title:
Bicycle Generator
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Power of the Human Body
Area of Study:
Electricity & Magnetism

Disclaimer

Equipment:
Bicycle Generator.
Procedure:

This experiment is designed to show what it feels like to generate 100 watts of power.  100 watts is the average power generated by the human body when at rest.

Since we are using an alternator instead of a generator we need to have a 6 volt battery to energize the field coil.  Once the coil has been energized the battery is disconnected and the alternator is self-sustaining.  The alternator itself (field coil) consumes about 20 watts of power.  There are 7 light bulbs each capable of 12 watts which may be switch in individually.  Maximum total power output should be around 105 watts for this unit.

NOTE: A minimum speed needs to be maintained to keep the field coil energized.

References:
  • Timothy Lindstrom and Catherine Middlecamp, "Campus as a Living Laboratory for Sustainability: The Physics Connection", TPT, Vol. 56, #4, Apr. 2018, p. 240.
  • Ole Anton Haugland, "A Well-Known But Still Surprising Generator", TPT, Vol. 52, #9, Dec. 2014, p. 532.
  • James O'Connell, "Food for Thought", TPT, Vol. 40, #1, Jan. 2002, p. 4.
  • Larry Weinstein, "A Solar Comparison", TPT, Vol. 38, #9, Dec. 2000, p. 518.
  • Gilbert H. Ward, "Hard to Believe!", TPT, Vol. 38, #6, Sept. 2000, p. 333.
  • John Allen Paulos, "Significant Figures and Human Body Temperature", TPT, Vol. 37, #6, Sept. 1999, p. 368.
  • Stan Jakuba, "Effect of Exercise Expressed in Joules and Watts", TPT, Vol. 29, #8, Nov. 1991, p. 512.
  • Joseph Priest and George Pierce, "Generating Class Interest", TPT, Vol. 19, #3, Mar. 1981, p. 188.
  • Dean Zollman and George Athey, "Variation on the Bicycle Generator", TPT, Vol. 14, #1, Jan. 1976, p. 61.
  • Robert H. Johns, "How Big is a Joule?", TPT, Vol. 9, #7, Oct. 1971, p. 414.
  • Rachel Z. Arndt, "How to Build a Bicycle-Powered Generator", Popular Mechanics, Apr. 2014, p. 78.
  • Hackett, "When Disaster Strikes, This Bike Generator Will Give Me Power", Popular Science, Mar. 2014, p. 74.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.