Re: But the Alternator Runs Anyway

[Bob Sciamanda <trebor@VELOCITY.NET>]

If you have a small hand-cranked generator, connect it to a light bulb
through a switch.  You will note that the generator is harder to turn when
the light is switched on!

Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
trebor@velocity.net
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Abul Kalam" <cd_abul@CCCS.CCCOES.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 2:05 PM
Subject: But the Alternator Runs Anyway


> In one of the conceptual physics textbooks, the question asked was
> whether there was a greater consumption of gas in a car while the engine
> was running if the car lights were left on. As obvious as the answer
> seemed, I responded, yes it would. The energy had to come from
> somewhere. But one of my students reminded me that the alternator ran
> all the same whether the lights were on or not; so the overall gas
> consumption stayed the same; in his opinion, it did not make any
> difference. What do you think?
> - Abby