The document describes the Gravity Light, a lamp that generates electricity through gravity. It works by using the potential energy from lifted weights to power an electric motor and LED light. This provides lighting for 15-30 minutes. It has benefits over kerosene lamps by reducing fire risks and hazardous gas emissions. Its low cost of $5 makes it accessible for the 1.5 billion people without electricity access. It promotes green technology by using renewable gravitational potential energy without batteries.

1. GRAVITY LIGHT-THE
GRAVITY POWERED
LAMP
BY TEAM CARL GAUSS TECH

2. AIM OF THIS PROJECT
• Using mathematics is an essential part of any new technological startup today, and green technology is
no exception. Mathematics in some form is the basis behind all technology in this world.
• In this particular case we will be looking at the utilization of mathematics in the concept of the Gravity
Light, a lamp that allows the generation of light and electricity through gravity.
• As well as playing its role in green technology progress, by the means of reduced production of green
house gases, this lamp also has a considerable social impact, due to the fact that its price and the
requirements of usage make it possible to be used by many third-world countries, which may not have
direct access to electricity and as a result effective lighting.

3. THE PROBLEM WE ARE FACING
1.5 billion people on the planet, who do not have access to electricity, rely on different biomass fuels;
garbage or alcohol fuels, such as kerosene. This is their only source of light once the sun begins to set. This
in many ways is harmful to both the environment and the all the people that share the living space.

4. KEROSENE LAMPS
• -Will create more fire risks, since in most third world countries, kerosene lamps are a cheap source of
light. However over the past years there have been many reports of burns and deaths because of this
unsafe solution to lighting.
• -Will give of hazardous gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide is a gas that we can not
see, smell or taste. It bonds with haemoglobin in our red blood cells, allowing less oxygen to be carried
by the red blood cells. This can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and will be fatal if the person
continues to be exposed to the gas.

5. HOW THE LAMP WORKS
1. You are provided with two bags that you can fill with stones,
rocks, etc. One big bag (8-12.5kg), one small bag (0.5kg-
1kg).
2. You attach the bag to the weight hook and lift it up.
3. As the previously lifted weight descends, it turns a series of
gears within the lamp into motion.
1. The gears in turn spin the electric motor.
2. The electric motor provides enough energy to power up an
LED for 15 to 30 minutes. The length of time depends on
the weight of the bag and the brightness settings. The
brighter the lamp, the shorter the period of time.
3. There are external connectors that allow charging and
powering various other devices such as torches and radios.

6. GRAVITY LIGHT VIDEO
• We have requested a
demonstration of the
device, and they have share
this video with us.

7. Gravitational Potential
Energy Gravity Mass Height
235.2 J 9.8N/kg 12kg 2m
GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY
. So lets assume that we hang the Gravity light from a 2m height, and on high brightness it runs for 15mins.
. The mass of the main bag is 12.5 kg and the opposite bag weighs 0.5 kg. (Resultant weight is 12 kg)
.We know that the gravitational field strength of earth is 9.8N/kg.
Power (Watts) G.P.E (J) Time (s)
0.26 W 235.2 J 900 s

8. ENERGY DIAGRAM
Input OutputThe Gravity Light
Light
Thermal SoundKinetic
Wasted Energy

9. CALCULATING EFFICIENCY
• To calculate efficiency : Output/ Input
• It is important to calculate the energy efficiency to
understand how much of the useful energy is
produced. In our energy diagram we can see that
there is some energy wasted in forms of thermal,
kinetic and sound.
• The input is the Gravitational Potential Energy we
have already calculated. The outputs are on the
next page in a table.

10. THE POWER OUTPUT OF THE LAMP
• This can be calculated in watts (joules per second, as the energy output) or lumens (the amount of light
emitted per second). As there are 3 different settings, the output of energy would also be different for
each of them. The following outputs are generated in case a 12.5 kg load is used.
Light setting Energy output in watts Energy output in lumens
High 0.1 15
Medium 0.075 10
Low 0.05 5

11. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LAMP
• Lumens are used to measure all the light emitted, however using Lux (lumens per square meter) would
be more appropriate to compare effectiveness of the Gravity Light as a light source.
• As Gravity Light is an LED, all of its light can be projected onto a specific surface, rather then emitting it
in multiple directions. Therefore, the output of the lamp would be between 5 and 15 lux depending on
the setting.
• As a comparison, the output of an average kerosene lamp in Lux would be between 1 and 6 Lux, due to
the fact that its light is emitted in multiple directions, some of which could be unwanted.

12. THE IMPACT OF THE GRAVITY LAMP ON
GREEN TECHNOLOGY
• Usage of renewable energy sources (which in this case would be Gravitational Potential Energy, which is
obtained by the weight in course of lifting) and the fact that it does not use batteries, which would be
recharged with the energy obtained from non-renewable energy sources, make it an outstanding
example of green technology.

13. THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE LAMP
• The lamp’s cost is only 5 USD, which makes it possible
to purchase by poorer households in developing
countries. It does not require any electricity apart from
its own and can be used to charge and power multiple
devices, such as radios and torches.