Storing electrical energy
You already know that electrical energy can be stored in a battery. There is an even more direct way with a capacitor. A capacitor stores electrical charges and can release them again as electrical current. Attach the Genecon and Voltage/Current probe to the capacitor. Follow the diagram carefully.
Connect the Voltage/Current probe to your handheld computer. Refer to Technical Hints to connect the Voltage/Current probe.
Start the software to record energy.
Crank until you have charged the capacitor.
Quickly disconnect one lead of the Genecon as shown, leaving the Voltage/Current probe attached. Wait for about 20 seconds.
Re-attach the capacitor to the Genecon without cranking it. Observe what happens.
When the Genecon stops, stop recording data and save to the handheld computer.
Look at the graph. Sketch the shape of the graph. Did the amount of cranking effort change as the capacitor "filled up"? Could you tell when it was fully charged? What did the graph do when the capacitor "drained out"? Record your thoughts in Notes on your handheld computer.
