PHY ICS - The Institute of Physics in Ireland
PHY ICS - The Institute of Physics in Ireland
PHY ICS - The Institute of Physics in Ireland
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22 heat<br />
Mak<strong>in</strong>g a turb<strong>in</strong>e from a plastic cup<br />
Belgium<br />
Convection currents are created <strong>in</strong> warm air<br />
You will need...<br />
✔ a plastic dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g cup<br />
✔ a pencil or p<strong>in</strong><br />
✔ a heat source (e.g. a<br />
radiator)<br />
Background<br />
Warm air rises.<br />
Follow these steps<br />
1 Make a number <strong>of</strong><br />
L-shaped <strong>in</strong>cisions (all along<br />
the same orientation) <strong>in</strong> a<br />
very light plastic dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g cup<br />
and fold back the flaps that<br />
are created as a result (see<br />
picture).<br />
2 Place the cup, upturned,<br />
onto a p<strong>in</strong>, pencil tip or other<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ted support on which it<br />
can turn freely.<br />
3 Place the apparatus over a<br />
source <strong>of</strong> heat, such as a<br />
radiator.<br />
<strong>PHY</strong>S<strong>ICS</strong> ON STAGE 3<br />
So what happened?<br />
<strong>The</strong> ris<strong>in</strong>g hot air escapes<br />
sideways from the holes and<br />
the result<strong>in</strong>g force causes the<br />
cup to rotate.<br />
What next?<br />
Discuss how steam turb<strong>in</strong>es<br />
operate us<strong>in</strong>g the same<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ciple.
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