Forms 4 & 5 visit the 'power pod' to look at renewable energy resources
The John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar where hosting the ‘Power Pod’ for the day last Friday and Forms 4 and 5 went into Dunbar to have a look at it.
The ‘Power Pod’ is a Renewable Energy Roadshow run by the University of Edinburgh and is based around their trailer which has built in Solar Panels and Wind Turbine.
The children had a chance to see how the Solar Panels worked and watch how the wind turbine powers equipment on the van – it was certainly turning furiously that day in the wind.
Amongst the activities, the children tried cycling to generate enough power to raise some balls in a tube – apparently the same power which would be need to light a light bulb. Judging by some of their efforts, if they had to rely on this their houses would be pretty dark! They also powered spinning discs using solar panels, made propellers turn using wind power and experimented using wave and water power.
All the children thoroughly enjoyed their half hour activities and would like to thank both the John Muir Birthplace for inviting them and the University of Edinburgh for showing them the 'Power Pod'.
'We cycled on a bike to make the balls rise up. We also put light on a car to make it move by solar power. There was also a torch with no batteries, so you had to wind it up to make light.'
Freddy Y & Christian
'We saw solar panels, one to heat up water and the other to make electricity. There was also a battery powered bike. You had to cycle to get the two balls to rise up the tube.'
Jamie, Hughie & Theo
'We rode a bike to make electricity and then it made two balls lift up the tube. We shone a light on a car to make it move by solar power. Then we made electricity using water power.'
Julia & Rosie
'We rode a bike to make electricity and when we cycled the electricity made the fan push two balls up the tube. We then had a little black panel attached to a yellow and black disc. When you held the black panel to the sun it made the disc spin really fast. When you took it away from the light it stopped.'
Mercedes & Anne
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