Have you ever seen these sweet spinning candle carousels? They used to be quite popular in Europe, but I've only seen them a few times in the US. I decided to try to make one this holiday season by upcycling a can and an aluminum pie pan. Perfect for reusing your discards after you make your holiday dinner!
Not only is this a pretty decoration or a lovely, old-fashioned gift, but it is a heat-powered motor and a teaching tool. If you are going to use this to teach, the learning objective is to demonstrate how heat energy from convection is converted to work. The work is used to spin the carousel. It can be an excellent project for a physics class, including the opportunity to calculate how much heat is lost to surrounding air.
Here is mine in action; I made the music specially for this article. It's only 20 seconds long and shows the carousel in action, with no words.
You can also see an example of a commercially made one on Amazon.com.
Not only is this a pretty decoration or a lovely, old-fashioned gift, but it is a heat-powered motor and a teaching tool. If you are going to use this to teach, the learning objective is to demonstrate how heat energy from convection is converted to work. The work is used to spin the carousel. It can be an excellent project for a physics class, including the opportunity to calculate how much heat is lost to surrounding air.
Here is mine in action; I made the music specially for this article. It's only 20 seconds long and shows the carousel in action, with no words.
You can also see an example of a commercially made one on Amazon.com.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials and Supplies
To make this pretty project, you will need:
- a regular or short (tuna or cat food) can
- aluminum pie pan
- SAFETY EQUIPMENT: safety glasses and mask
- Dremel or other rotary cutter with cutting disks and sanding disk
- spray paint
- metal cutter
- spray paint
- rhinestones
- sparkly bracelet
- metal/glass glue
- decorative glass pieces
- tealight
- wire: fine gauge and thicker gauge
- wire cutter
- round nose pliers
- metal file
- paper shape punch
- knife
- matches
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