SIRs Research 2016-2017

Niles North High School

Link To Paper: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EldflMaBvY2v4ce4BoJPwT95JA8LQ9zR

Purpose: Piezoelectricity is the ability of certain materials to generate a voltage when subjected to mechanical stress. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to apply the piezoelectric effect to a system that can generate power from ground vehicle tires which are known to have energy wasted due to inefficiencies.

Procedure: A parallel circuit consisting of piezo elements is constructed and attached to the inside of a bicycle tire. The bicycle was rode in order to apply mechanical stress to the piezo elements.

Conclusion: The original circuit design, with piezo elements attached to the inside of the tire, was not successful. Therefore, the circuit was then attached to the outside of the rim which was also not successful. We believe the inner tube was not making enough contact with the piezo elements as well as making constant contact which results with little mechanical stress applied. We believe the redesign was unsuccessful due to the wire making contact with one another.

Awards:

• Gold Award Recipient, State Science Fair IJAS, Paper Session (April 2018)

• Gold Award Recipient, Regional Science Fair IJAS, Paper Session (March 2018)

• State Qualifier, Regional Science Fair IJAS, Paper Session (March 2018)

• NGIC:PI Competition, Semi-Final (April 2017)

• Silver Award Recipient, Regional Science Fair IJAS, Project Session (March 2017)