In School Programs

6th and 7th Grades – Energy Bike Play

What is the Energy Bike?

The energy bike is a stationary 21-speed bike designed to demonstrate fundamental concepts of electricity and energy. The motor mounted to the back of the bike acts as a generator and is connected to the display board where light bulbs and other small appliances can be attached. When students ride the Energy Bike, they are able feel the difference between the energy required to light an incandescent bulb versus a compact fluorescent bulb or other small appliances.

Learning Objectives

As a result of the Energy Bike Presentation, students will be able to:

• Use percentages and decimals to calculate energy efficiency (Illinois Learning Standard 6.A.3).
• Compare quantities using the appropriate units and methods (Illinois Learning Standard 7-A).
• Construct, read, and interpret graphs and charts to organize and represent data (Illinois Learning Standard 10.A.3a).
• Explain interactions of energy with matter, including conservation of energy (Illinois Learning Standard 12.C.3a).
• Identify advantages of energy conservation on local environment (Illinois Learning Standard 13-B).
• Explain incentive for purchasing energy-efficient technologies (Illinois Learning Standard 15-C).