For New Lamps, An Unlikely Energy Source: Gravity
Colin Lecher
at 07:30 AM 13 Dec 2020
Comments 0
For New Lamps, An Unlikely Energy Source: Gravity
Projects // 

Kerosene lamps used in off-grid, rural areas are a major problem. They're bad for people's health and the environment's. One startup's solution is to tap another, greener resource, something we all have in abundance: gravity.


The invention, GravityLight, does exactly what the name suggests: It keeps a light going through the power of gravity. As an attached weight falls, it pulls a cord through the center of the light, powering a dynamo. That dynamo converts the energy from the falling weight into power for the light. (It's the same idea as a hand-cranked device, just more vertical.) The weight can be set in a few seconds, and as it slowly reaches Earth, enough energy is generated to keep a light working for 30 minutes. As long as it's set every 30 minutes, it makes for a green, battery-free, continuous stream of light. Other, similar devices like battery chargers could be used through the same process, too.

The inventors say the gadgets can be sold now for less than $10, which would make a return on investment for owners three months after dumping kerosene lighting. And speaking of investments, the group has already shattered the goal for its Indiegogo campaign, meaning we'll hopefully see these in action soon.

[Treehugger]

RELATED
New Mission Will Explore Bizarre Gravitational Anomaly Around Earth
Something strange happens to spacecraft swinging past Earth for a gravity boost - they suddenly speed up, and their trajectories change in unexpected ways. It's a tiny change, but ... more >
A Roller Coaster That'll Leave You Weightless for Eight Long Seconds
Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster on Earth, drops its passengers a life-flashing 127 metres. Ferrari World's Formula Rossa, the fastest, literally takes riders' breath away at ... more >
Metamaterials Can Exert a Whole New Kind of Force
Today in crazy tricks of physics, a few researchers over at the University of Southampton in the UK have theorised that metamaterials ought to be able to generate a wholly new kind... more >
 
0 COMMENTS

Leave a comment

Please provide your details to leave a comment.

The fields marked with (*) are required.


Display Name: *
Email *:
Comments *:
(Max 750 characters)
Characters remaining:
*

(letters are not case-sensitive)

Enter the text in the image above
 
Editor's Picks
BY Francie Diep POSTED 09.04.2020 | 0 COMMENTS