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Apr 1, 2007

Run your mp3 player with a water powered battery

Posted in Geek, Physics, Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- 2 Comments; add your comment

In this week’s video, MIT’s Walter Lewin demonstrates how to produce 10 to 15000 volts of electricity using a couple of empty paint cans, a bucket of water, some wire, and two balls. The question is how does this work and could you use it like the potato powered mp3 player?

<br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/F5PvIPgJGx0" flashvars="&#038;subtitle=on">Watch on Youtube</a>

I’ll look forward to seeing your suggestions in the comments and will post a more detailed explanation the the answers tomorrow.

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2 Comments »

  1. DV82XL said,

    April 2, 2007 at 11:24 am

    I haven’t seen one of these in years. Of all electrostatic generators, this one is the least intuitive - good for him making it an assignment to explain it.


  2. David Bradley said,

    April 2, 2007 at 12:08 pm

    I thought it was a great demo, I recall only ever seeing it on “schools” programming before, never in class. Watch out for more details (my own assignment handout) on Tuesday.

    For Sciencebase video fans, next Monday, we’ve got a special treat (well, I think it’s special). A short global warming lecture with a difference from Austrian student Bernhard Steinerhoff.


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