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Book 22, Question 120 · Video

How Much Electricity Can You Make by Pedaling?

Video · 1:44 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 22

Could you power a light bulb with your own legs? A pedal generator can find out! It would take many people pedaling at once to power a toaster.

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How much electricity can you make by pedaling?

The Big Idea

Could you power a light bulb with your own legs? A pedal generator can find out! Let's see how much you can make.

A Fit Person

Step one: a fit person. A fit person can pedal a generator and make about a hundred watts for a while. That is enough to light a bright bulb.

A Strong Athlete

Step two: a strong athlete. A strong athlete can make two hundred watts or more for a short time. But no one can keep that up for long.

Big Appliances

Step three: big appliances. Pedal-power bikes at science centers let kids see how hard it is to power things. Big appliances use much more power than a person can make.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Your legs turn the pedals. The generator makes power. A bright bulb glows. A toaster needs much more.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! It would take many people pedaling at once to power a toaster. One person can light a bright bulb. Athletes can make two hundred watts or more for a short time. Science centers have pedal bikes you can try.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! At a science center, try a pedal bike that lights a small light. You can also try a hand-crank toy. Notice how tired your muscles get. Why is it hard to power big things? Tell a grown-up what you discover!

Outro

A fit person can make about a hundred watts by pedaling, enough for a bright bulb but not for a toaster. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

Why I wrote this