Our project: 

For our final chemistry project, we built a hand crank that generates enough mechanical energy to    power a small light. The main goal was to connect our learning about reaction energy and thermochemistry to a real-world system. Instead of using a chemical reaction, we used physical motion to produce electricity, which gave us a hands-on way to think about energy transfer and conservation. The project required designing, building, and testing a working crank system, and although we faced some challenges with limited materials and complex wiring, we were able to create a functioning prototype. It was a creative and rewarding experience that helped us better understand how energy can be transferred and transformed in different forms.

                                                             Key concepts:

Reaction Energy: Reaction energy is the energy absorbed or released during a chemical reaction. Even though we didn’t use a chemical reaction to power the light, we studied how energy is involved in reactions to better understand how different energy sources work. This helped us make connections between mechanical energy from cranking and chemical energy like in batteries or combustion reactions, showing how all systems rely on energy input to do work.

Thermochemistry: Thermochemistry focuses on heat flow in chemical reactions. In our project, we used this concept to think about energy conservation and efficiency. Even though we weren’t generating heat from a reaction, the friction in our crank system caused energy to be lost as heat. That showed us how important it is to minimize energy loss in real-world systems and helped us think critically about how systems like engines and power tools work.

Energy Transfer and Conservation: A key principle in both chemistry and physics is that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Our project transformed mechanical energy from the crank into electrical energy to light the bulb. We had to design a system that maximized this energy transfer while reducing energy losses from friction and resistance, which helped reinforce how conservation of energy works in practice.

Electrical Circuits: We had to understand basic circuit concepts to wire our crank system. We learned about how voltage, current, and resistance interact using Ohm’s Law, and how to connect wires, resistors, and the LED light to complete a circuit. This connected chemistry with basic electronics and gave us hands-on experience applying those principles.

Real-World Application of Chemistry: Overall, our project tied chemistry concepts to something tangible. We saw how the same energy principles behind reactions in a lab can also apply to technology and everyday tools. It helped us think beyond equations and focus on how chemistry shows up in the real world.

Cross-Subject Integration: This project also tied into physics through energy, circuits, and mechanical systems, engineering through design and testing, and even soft skills from English and leadership through communication, planning, and teamwork. It wasn’t just about science it was about applying what we’ve learned across the board.

                                                                 Reflection: 

This project was definitely challenging, but I think it went well overall. One thing I’m proud of is how well our group worked together, especially when things didn’t go as planned. We communicated clearly and kept each other motivated, which shows strong Collaboration and Character. Even when the crank wouldn’t power the light at first, we stayed focused and didn’t blame each other. Another thing I did well was problem solving. I learned how to troubleshoot electrical circuits and test different setups, which shows Critical Thinking and Creativity. On the other hand, one thing I struggled with was planning ahead. We didn’t fully realize how limited our materials were, which caused delays and frustration. That’s something I need to improve by being more organized and proactive in future projects. Another area I could do better in is technical communication. Sometimes I knew what the issue was, but I didn’t explain it clearly enough to the rest of the group, which slowed us down. That shows I need to improve my Communication and Collaboration even more. Overall, this project taught me that even when things are frustrating, I can adapt, keep going, and work better with others.