Energy Bike
How much power do you have?
Generate electricity with your muscles and watch how LEDs and an incandescent bulb respond. This exhibit clearly demonstrates the conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy.
The Science Behind It
When you pedal, you turn a generator, much like a bicycle dynamo. It converts your kinetic energy into electrical energy. The faster you pedal, the more energy is generated: • the voltage increases • more current flows. That is why the LEDs light up one after another and the bulb gets brighter. You can experience firsthand how muscle power becomes electrical energy. Human power output is limited: even with a lot of effort, you can generate around 100 watts. By comparison, a kettle needs about 2,000 watts. You’d have to pedal for a very long time just to make a cup of tea.
