Equipment:
Theory: An engine requires two temperatures, with heat being transferred from the higher-temperature reservoir to the lower-T reservoir.
Description: Pasco's heat engine comes with a small can that can be placed in hot and cold water to slowly raise a piston. This demonstration is much more visual, however, if the small can is replaced by a large crush-the-can type of can. Just connect the air lines and keep all valves open, and place a 200 g mass on top of the piston. When the can is placed in the beaker of hot water (not boiling...keep relatively warm with the hot plate) the piston moves all the way up; dunking the can in the bucket of colder (even room temperature) water makes it go back down again. It's best to place the piston on a lab jack to bring it closer to the level of the top of the beaker and bucket.
Setup time: 15 minutes.
References: (available in the demo room)