A Bulb That Glows Using Gravity
Researchers are working to find alternative sources of energy and are coming up with more efficient energy methods; we need to save up our resources for the future generations so that they don’t find themselves in a state of crisis. Well! Today more than 780 million people are dependent on kerosene to light their homes. But, there is a price to pay. It’s hazardous, expensive and toxic also it’s a classic fire starter and that is not entirely safe when used in wooden huts of rural areas.
It was 2008, when two product-designers from London named, Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves took it upon themselves to come up with a cheap and alternative method for lighting up homes.
Basic Scientific Principles
“Falling weight has enough energy to power a grandfather clock.”
Well, the idea is simple but of-course the execution requires technology! Basic idea was derived from Riddiford knowing that a falling weight has enough energy to power a grandfather clock and he applied the same principle to power a light bulb, his first attempt was a successful one and he made use of the crank of a wind-up light to a cycle wheel and hanged the weight from the wheel to make it spin. This spinning of wheel lighted up the device. Riddiford along with their small team worked for four years to refine their design of ‘Gravity Light’. Basic principle involved is the same as used by Riddiford before user hangs the gadget and fills the fabric bag that is attached to the device with almost 28 pounds of material.
Functionality of Gravity Light
This lifting and releasing of this bag steadily results in the pulling of a notched belt through the gadget’s plastic hub which in turn results in the spinning of gears and it drives a motor which continuously powers for thirty minutes, LED light. Their team has manufactured a thousand Gravity Lights and has planned to send them to different countries from the perspective of testing and using the results to further refine their invention. The lamp could prove handy in closets, campsites and any dark nook far from a socket. Inventors are hoping to get a license for a retail version of gadget that would cost only $10.
This idea is brilliant considering that this system doesn’t require energy to work and is not using up any of our resources and it’s a safe method and you are not even polluting the environment.
Well! Such systems and researches need to be appreciated and funded so that the scientists receive the encouragement that they deserve and keep them motivated, such researches should be publicized on media to promote interest among common people regarding science. All in all this Gravity Light is a wonderful invention.