Educational Experiments Using K-TOR Pocket Socket (Pt.1)

In our recent blog post we mentioned that the Pocket Socket can be used an educational tool.  Today we will dig into that subject a little deeper by reviewing an energy efficiency experiment you can do with your Pocket Socket, at home or in the classroom.

What You’ll Need:

• 1- K-TOR Pocket Socket
• 1- Lamp (remove lamp shade)
• 1- 60 watt incandescent bulb
• 1- 13 watt cfl bulb (60 watt equivalent)
• 1- Light meter (optional)
• 1 – Heart rate monitor (optional)

1. Plug the lamp into the outlet on the K-TOR Pocket Socket hand crank generator.
2. Screw the 13 watt cfl bulb into the socket.
3. Start spinning the generator at 2 rotation per second to generate full power. The bulb will light.
4. If using heart rate monitor or light meter measure data points before subject starts generating power and at various intervals while subject is generating power.
5. Unscrew the 13 watt cfl bulb from the socket and screw in the 60 watt incandescent bulb.
6. As in Step 3, spin the generator at 2 revolutions per second to generate max power.
7. If collecting data, record data as done in Step 4.

This experiment is a hands-on lesson in energy efficiency.  It enables those who conduct this experiment to feel the difference in work required to power a standard light bulb vs an energy efficient (CFL) light bulb. It also gives them a physical appreciation for the amount of work required to do something as simple as power a light.  The incandescent bulb is much harder to crank and won’t reach full brightness since it exceeds the power rating on the Pocket Socket.  It would take more than five Pocket Socket’s working together to power this inefficient technology.

Conversely, the energy efficient CFL bulb is relatively easy to power continuously at full brightness because of advanced semiconductor technology embedded in the bulb which makes it operate more efficiently. In fact, the CFL bulb puts out the same amount of light as the 60watt bulb while only consuming 13 watts.  Similar technology enables modern electronic devices to consume relatively little energy; although we typically come from the perspective that our devices use a ton of power since the batteries are always running low. The reality is that you could charge two iPhones with less energy than it takes to power the 13 watt cfl bulb.

Share your data with us on facebook and twitter! Stay tuned for another educational experiment next week.