Physics of toys - Simple air engines // Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

Sometimes referred to as a blow-suck engine, here is the most basic piece that is an easy build and popular with students. It can be varied according building skills and available materials. The same basic principles that drive this motor are used in today's modern engine where expanding gas is used to drive a piston and a crank is used to convert the movement into rotary motion. The idea of a flywheel is used to overcome the positions where little or no torque is applied to the crank, the flywheel keeps it moving due to it's moment of Inertia. This lung powered engine is used as a demonstration of these principles and does require a little practice to get the rhythm and timing right.