In this O Wow Moment episode from the Children's Museum of Houston, we examine how wind-up toys work. Inside each toy is a torsion spring that stores energy by being wound, then releases that energy as it unwinds which the mechanisms inside the toy turn into movement. So, naturally, we create our own simple wind-up toy -- the Spool Racer!
Source: Children's Museum of Houston
Finding creative, hands-on ways to demonstrate the difference between potential and kinetic energy can be difficult. Not to worry... that's why you have us! With some simple household items and a little creativity, the Wind Up Racer will have you racing a spool across the room in no time!
Source: SICK SCIENCE!
Source: PBS Zoom
Summary
Students see how potential energy (stored energy) can be converted into kinetic energy (motion). Acting as if they were engineers designing vehicles, they use rubber bands, pencils and spools to explore how elastic potential energy from twisted rubber bands can roll the spools. They brainstorm, prototype, modify, test and redesign variations to the basic spool racer design in order to meet different design criteria, ultimately facing off in a race competition. These simple-to-make devices store potential energy in twisted rubber bands and then convert the potential energy to kinetic energy upon release.
Engineering Connection
Engineers design motor vehicles to ensure safe and effective transportation. The key component of a motor vehicle is its engine, which serves as the "black box," converting chemical energy stored in gasoline into the kinetic energy of a moving car. Since energy conversion can take place between all different types of energy, fossil fuels are not the only kind of energy input engineers choose for their vehicle designs. For example, some vehicles use batteries to store electrical energy, which is converted into kinetic energy. In this activity, students play the role of mechanical engineers as they design spool racers that demonstrate how elastic energy stored in stretched rubber bands may be used to power spool-wheeled "cars," and experience how different design criteria affect the functionality of their spool racers.
Source: Regents of the University of Colorado
