4F10.46 Exploding Fuel

Exploding fuel demo (like in car engine). Use hand held tesla coil to apply high voltage to screw in side of bottle. Blue flame and loud explosion occur. Cork heads toward ceiling. May want to use with model of car engine piston.

Setup Requirements: Minimal. A small amount of methanol is placed in a plastic bottle. Put on top and swirl around to fill space with vapor. Replace cap with cork. Put cork in until it feels tight. Do not jam it in or bottle may explode. Try this out ahead of time so you will know what to expect.

Equations: None

Safety Issues:Flame & Explosion. Cork shoots out so wear eye protection. May need to move students away from front desk. Point bottle away from students.

4F30.10 Stirling and Steam Engines

Models of Stirling and Steam Engines with moving parts are available.

Setup Requirements:May need to add water to tank of steam generator. Add alcohol to lamp of Stirling engine. Both take a few minutes to warm up. May need to give mechanism a push to get started. If Stirling engine too slow to start using alcohol lamp, use propane torch to heat cylinder above alcohol lamp. Remove alcohol first.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: Flame, AC Voltage Empty alcohol lamp before using propane torch.

4F30.12 Coffee Cup Engine

Place on top of cup filled with hot coffee or water. The temperature difference between the room and the hot liquid will drive this Stirling engine variation. The flattened cylindrical base has a diaphragm that moves up and down. May need to give the propeller a spin to get it started. Will not work if room is too warm.

Setup Requirements: Minimal. Time needed to prepare hot coffee or hot water. Test in stock room to see if working and how much time needed to get started.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: Hot Liquid

4F30.52 Model of Four Stroke Gas Engine

Turn handle on wheel on side to make parts move. May want to use in connection with  4F10.46 Exploding Fuel or 4F30.10 Sterling and Steam Engines.

Setup Requirements: Off the shelf.

Equations: None

Safety Issues: None