ILMS science students were using their speed and strength to make electricity with a special tool recently.
Michael Wilson from the Logan County Electric Co-operative presented the “Energy Bike” to seventh graders in Jana Core's science classes. Students were able to take a ride and see how much of their energy it can take to power devices.
The Energy Bike allows riders to experience their energy being transformed into light, heat and sound. As the power consumption increases by turning on more bulbs or appliances, the bike becomes harder to pedal.
This session focused on constant versus intermittent energy.
"So when the wind stops or if it blows too lightly, you've got nothing. And if it blows too hard, then you have to shut off the turbines because it's dangerous. A lot like solar. Would you like to rely on this for your power? No--but does it help supply power to the grid--yes," explained Wilson.
Several students got to try it out either by riding the bike or feeling the bulbs to notice how "hot" they burn.
The classes discussed the pros and cons of different forms of energy including wind, solar, natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydro and more.
The Energy Bike also promotes energy conservation and teaches lighting technology as it compares LED (light emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent) light bulbs to incandescent light bulbs. In addition, Wilson covered details on the operation of the Logan County Electric Co-operative and power plant generation. He says the energy industry is a great place to look for employment for these students in the future, as it is always changing to meet the demands of consumers.
Core says the demonstration covered key parts of the curriculum such as converting chemical and mechanical energy into electricity.