Background research

 

Energy is a major part of everyday life, especially in schools where it is used to power lights, computers, air conditioning, projectors, and other equipment. Most of the electricity used around the world is still generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. While these energy sources are effective, they release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

 

 These gases trap heat around the Earth, causing global warming and contributing to climate change. The effects of climate change can already be seen through rising temperatures, more frequent natural disasters, and changes to ecosystems. Because schools consume large amounts of energy every day, it is important to explore more sustainable alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas use.

 

 One example is kinetic energy, the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. Having kinetic energy used in schools would be a much more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. My project uses kinetic energy in an effective and fun way. This kinetic playground slide will operate using mats that the kids sit on that have magnets installed in the bottom of them. These magnets will interact with copper coils on the underside of the slide. This would use magnetic induction to theoretically generate energy.

 

                      

                                   Aim and hypothesis

 

 Aim: To theoretically design and build a Kinetic Playground Slide prototype that uses magnets and copper coils to collect energy to store away or use immediately. This will then help energy use at the new Brown and Jolly campus. 

 

Hypothesis: If we are to install this magnetic induction kinetic slide into Brown and Jolly the amount of fossil fuel energy will decrease and  the kinetic energy use will increase. Making this kinetic slide means we now have equipment for the kids to play on while sustainable energy is being captured for extensive use.

 

 

                                   

 

 

                              Method and safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. A child sits on a mat that contains magnets and slides down the kinetic playground slide. As the mat moves, the magnets inside it pass over copper coils placed underneath the slide.

3. The moving magnets create a changing magnetic field around the copper coils. This changing magnetic field causes electrons in the copper wire to move, generating an electric current. This process is called electromagnetic induction.

5. The electricity produced travels through wires connected to the coils. The generated electricity can be used immediately or stored in a battery for later use.

7. The faster the child slides, the faster the magnets move past the coils, which increases the amount of electricity generated.

8. In this way, the slide converts the child's kinetic energy  into electrical energy that is sustainable and a way better alternative than using fossil fuels.

Summary: The movement of magnets inside the sliding mat over copper coils creates electricity through electromagnetic induction, turning the energy of the child's slide into useful electricity

                             Results and Estimation

 

 

Typical schools in NSW use 3800 kWh of electricity but after the implementation of my slide we will be using 3.27kWh of electricity which is less but it is more sustainable and a great way to make new equipment for the kids to play on.

 

 

                                      Forces and Energy

Gravity – Non-contact force – Gravity pulls the child and mat down the slide.

Friction – Contact force – Friction between the mat and slide slows it down a little and creates some heat.

Energy Transformation: Gravitational potential energy changes into kinetic energy as the child slides down.

Energy Transformation: The moving magnets create electrical energy when they pass over the copper coils.

Energy Transfer: The electricity is transferred through wires and can be stored in a battery or used straight away.

 

                                            Problem Solving

The biggest engineering challenge with this system is making sure enough electricity is generated to be useful. Since children will slide at different speeds and not all the time, the amount of energy produced can be quite small.

This can cause two main problems:

Low Energy Production: If there are not enough children using the slide, very little electricity will be generated, making it difficult to power devices or charge batteries.

Breakage: Over time, the magnets, mats, and copper coils may become damaged from constantly being used. This could reduce the amount of electricity generated and require repairs or replacement parts.

To solve these problems, the slide could use strong magnets, high-quality materials, and a battery system to store energy generated throughout the day.

                                              

                                   Conclusion

 

In conclusion, the Kinetic Playground Slide is a great project for the new Brown and Jolly campus. While it will not solve all of the school's energy needs, it can still make a small contribution by generating renewable electricity from everyday play. If students are already going to use the playground anyway, we might as well capture some of that kinetic energy to help make our new campus more sustainable and environmentally friendly.