Students Reinvent the Wheel|ABC 13

text size: A | A | A

Students Reinvent the Wheel

posted 11:45 pm Thu February 28, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA

reporter: Courtney Robinson posted by: Webteam

Who says you can't re-invent the wheel?! Some Randolph College students have created a human-sized hamster wheel. What it's for, is a bright idea.

Please Upgrade To Flash!

related stories:

It started out as an idea, then around it went.

Peter Sheldon, Physics Dept. - "It's a human sized hamster wheel."

Created by Randolph College's physics club, planned last year, built this year.

Kacey Meaker, Senior - "There's no plan for a human sized hamster wheel. We just had to start from scratch and make everything ourselves."

Their purpose -- to generate electricity.

Catherine Khoo, Freshman - "I'm really, really excited that everything's worked so far. Of course, there's a little bit of troubleshooting here and there, but so far we're really happy that it can power electricity."

Kacey Meaker's the self-proclaimed hamster wheel girl.

Meaker - "No actually, I just joined the Cross Country team."

The energy she generates running in the wheel, is turned into power through a pulley system and generator. She's able to make enough right now to power a light bulb.

Sheldon - "We want to make people think about alternative energy sources. What are other ways you can power things?"

And let students put classroom physics into action.

Meaker - "It's really fun to be able to explain to people how things work and how the world works."

Even if it's through the eyes of a hamster.

Khoo - "It's like an amusement park ride, you know the boats that go from one side to the other side, that's what it feels like to me."

Students will continue fine-tuning the wheel for the school's March 29th Science Day.

Your children can take their own spin on the wheel. Click here for details.

You need to be a registered member of
ABC 13 to leave comments on news stories.

Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.

Please leave your comments below:

Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.

The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.