======Stirling Engine======


<WRAP right box>
**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
\\
**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
\\


**Alternative titles:** Low Temperature Stirling Engine 
</WRAP>

====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Pour hot water into a coffee cup.  
  - Place the low temperature Stirling engine on top of the cup.  
  - Wait about 15 seconds to allow the engine to warm up.  
  - Gently spin the flywheel to start the cycle.  
  - Observe as the engine continues to run using heat from the hot water.



====Links==== 
An Elegant Machine - The Stirling Engine - ScienceOnline: 
{{youtube>Qshc2yWKq2A?}}\\

Stirling Engine Demo - Physics Demos: 
{{youtube>c8ZfqV5BhpA?}}\\

📄 Low Temperature Stirling Engine - UCSC Physics Demonstration Room: [[https://ucscphysicsdemo.sites.ucsc.edu/physics-5b6b-demos/low-temperature-stirling-engine/]]\\

====Variations====
  * Use different water temperatures to test how heat input affects engine performance.  
  * Try placing the engine on ice water to see if it can run in reverse from a cooler source.  
  * Compare performance using different sized cups or containers to change heat transfer rates.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Handle hot water carefully to avoid burns.  
  * Place the cup on a stable surface to prevent tipping or spilling.  
  * Do not touch moving parts of the engine while it is operating.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the engine need an initial push to start? (The flywheel requires motion to overcome inertia and begin the repeating cycle.)  
  * What is the energy source that keeps the engine running? (Heat energy from the hot water is converted to mechanical energy.)  
  * How do the four steps of the Stirling cycle relate to the observed motion? (Heating, expansion, cooling, and compression of the working gas keep the piston and flywheel moving.)  
  * How does this experiment illustrate real-world applications of heat engines? (It models principles used in power generation and alternative energy devices.)