Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

With the advent of incessant searching for an alternative source of energy, we

the researchers were inspired to investigate alternative energy source which can

significantly affect people’s daily lives. Along with these, it can be more helpful to people

who live in a marginalized island and it can also be helpful during an emergency.

There are many ways to create and store electricity through renewable

resources one of these is converting kinetic energy to electrical energy. This process

can be done using gravity.

The Law of Conservation of Energy, all forms of energy are equivalent and

energy can be converted from one form to another, and when it does, the unit of energy

used to express it also changes.( Philip J. O'Keefe, November 2015)

Let’s say we want to put an object with a certain amount of kinetic energy to good

use and power an electric light bulb. First, we must find a way of converting the

object’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. To do so, we’ll hang weight and connect

the object to the gear that will rotate the dynamo to create electricity.

As an object falls its weight tugs on the string, causing the winding drum to

rotate. When the drum rotates, the dynamo's magnet spins, creating electrical energy.

All that's required to produce electricity is a spinning magnet and coils of wire.
 This means that if the object's kinetic energy was converted into electrical

energy, it would provide enough power to light a bulb.

For these reasons, the researchers came up with a problem and aim to know the

capability of using gravity to generate electricity which can be used for lighting and

similar application. It can be used to produce electricity with much less harm to the

people and the environment.

The purpose of this study is to create a prototype of a generator that will give

power able to light the houses. This project can also serve as an emergency kit during

calamities even in urban areas where electricity is not supplied.

More and more people can look into this option in the future to ensure reliable

energy supplies to their homes. This would help reduce damaging emissions being

added to our atmosphere.

Statement of the Problem

Problems may be encounter by the researchers in the process of constructing

the Prototype Generator. This study is conducted to identify and come up with possible

solutions. Through research and investigations, this study will attempt to answer the

following questions:

1. What is the potential of using the kinetic energy stored in an object as an alternative

source of energy?

2. How long does the lamp will last?

3. What are the necessary methods to produce energy from the apparatus?
Conceptual Framework

The major concern of this study was to construct a fully functional gravity-

powered generator that will be beneficial to people for emergency purposes.

Figure I illustrates the researcher's paradigm. The inputs are the apparatus and

an object can be used as a weight to pull the string that will rotate the magnet inside the

motor. The kinetic energy acts as an ignition to start the electro-mechanical process in

that will create a potential difference. A fully functional prototype of the gravity generator

is obtained.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. What is the
Researching Phase of
potential of using the
the Project
kinetic energy stored Generating electrical
in an object as an energy through a
Planning and Initiating
alternative source of gravity-powered
Phase
energy? generator
Designing
2. How long does the
lamp will last?
Construction
3. What are the
Testing
necessary methods
to produce energy
Troubleshooting
from the apparatus?
Evaluating

Project Ready to Use

Figure 1.1 Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

Significance of the Study

Any study or endeavor cannot prevail without significance. Since the purpose of

this study is to build a Gravity Generator and provide an alternative energy source that

can light up the bulb, the findings of this research could lead to the following benefits:

For the environment

Compare with another source of energy, this is also a lot safer since it does not

have components and compounds that may spark causing fire, and it does not emit

toxic gases and leaves a minimal carbon footprint. This is an environment-friendly and

sustainable alternative light source.

For the country

The purpose or our main focus on this study was to give light to that

island/community that do not have access to electricity and have no financial capacity

for acquiring an alternative source of electricity.

For the economy

This study will help the economy of impecunious people by giving them an idea

of saving energy.

For the student

Engineering students may enhance their skills to improve to build up an idea that

is a more convenient way of producing alternative energy.

For future developers

This study will help the next generation of the developer to build or for making

their study as their bases.

Scope and Limitation

This project study will focus on making an alternative source of energy that can

be used by people in marginalize island specifically in the aspect of lightings. It can also

be beneficial to everyone for its availability during an emergency is reliable. This project

is capable of generating and storing electrical energy. This can be use by placing it at a

high place and dropping a suspended weight. This project can be associated by other

system with the same aspect of generating electricity using gravity.

Definition of Terms

Electricity-a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as

electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a

current.(Simons,C.,August 2017)

Electromechanical - devices are ones which have both electrical and mechanical

Gear – is devices can change the speed, torque, and direction of a power source.
Motor - An electric motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into

mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the

motor's magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding to generate force in the form

of rotation of a shaft.

Rectifier - an electrical device that converts an alternating current into a direct one by

allowing a current to flow through it in one direction only.

Voltage Doubler- is a voltage multiplier circuit that has a voltage multiplication factor of

two. The circuit consists of only two diodes, two capacitors and an oscillating AC input

voltage (a PWM waveform could also be used). This simple diode-capacitor pump

circuit gives a DC output voltage equal to the peak-to-peak value of the sinusoidal input.

In other words, double the peak voltage value because the diodes and the capacitors

work together to effectively double the voltage.

Voltage regulator - A voltage regulator is a system designed to automatically maintain

a constant voltage level. A voltage regulator may use a simple feed-forward design or

may include negative feedback.