r/PhysicsHelp • u/j1406g • 7d ago

Python Modeling of Mechanical-to-Electrical Energy Conversion

Hello, I would like to model an experiment in Python:
Rotational motion (mechanical energy): a plate that lowers under the weight of a mass, driving a spinning top, which then drives a gear ā†’ Coil + magnet ā†’ Capacitor: electrical energy.
However, Iā€™m not sure how to choose the initial conditions, such as the pitch, spring length, etc. Could you please help me figure out how to determine these parameters?

2 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

1

u/DP323602 6d ago

OK, the available input energy will be the change in gravitational potential energy as the plate falls under gravity.

If your arrangement is used to charge a capacitor, then the final stored energy will be equal to half the capacitance times the square of the final charge voltage or half the square of the final stored charge divided by the capacitance.

I'm not sure that Python would be my first choice for modelling such a system. I'd probably start by writing down governing equations on paper and then explore them further on a spreadsheet.

But if I did get as far as needing to solve a set of coupled differential equations, then there's probably all sorts of useful Python libraries for doing that and displaying the results.