The Production of Water-Powered

Flashlight

Kathlene Charisse A. Rubion

RESEARCH 10
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Light is an integral aspect in people’s survival on Earth. In the absence of this need, especially
during typhoons, floods, and other natural calamities where power outage is predictable, people use
artificial light source such as fuel-based lamps and emergency bulbs that emit adequate light to illuminate
objects in the dark and make them visible. But fuel-based lamps such as kerosene lamps has the lowest
light output and emergency lights run out of battery and need to be recharged.

Internationally, one of the problems of the people in the world is lack source of light especially
during the times when power outage is happening. Flashlights are an important part of any kit as they can
give light when no other source is available in a manner that’s much safer than exposed candles.
Therefore the researcher thought of an alternative way to resolve the needs for these types of disasters
which is the water-powered flashlight.

Nationally, here in the Philippines, we often experience natural calamities which cause
brownouts and black outs. Most of the people use LED flashlights which need to be recharged but it
cannot be charged if there is power outage. Some people use kerosene lamps and candles but these can
cause fire. So the researcher proposes the idea of making a flashlight that is powered by water. Another
factor is that, girl scouts and boy scouts often use flashlight especially when camping and hiking in
mountainous areas. There is no electricity in the mountains so they need to use another source of light and
that is the flashlight powered by water. It's easier and safer to use and because it is powered by water, it
does not run out of battery right away.

Locally, here in the Province, Mindoro and in the Municipality of Victoria, power outage is
often happening. Most of the people cannot afford to buy LED flashlights. There are so many flashlights
and they're just being thrown out because they're broken. But there can still be a way, so the researcher
thought of the idea of recycling and at the same time help the people to address this kind of problem.

The purpose of the study is to show that water-powered flashlight is significantly more efficient
to use where there are power outages, calamities and whenever it is needed. The study helps a lot because
its source of energy can be found anywhere because it is inherent in natural resources.
B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to prove that water can replace batteries as electrolyte in flashlight.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the components present in battery that could also be seen in water?

2. What are the benefits that the users of water powered flashlight can get?

3. Is there a significant difference between the water-powered flashlight and ordinary flashlight in

terms of :

a. Durability and

b. source of energy?

C. Statement of the Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between the water-powered flashlight and ordinary

flashlight in terms of:

A. Durability and

B. Source of energy

D. Significance of the Study

This study will be a great help for the people in the community especially in homes to

make portable water-powered flashlight. It enables them to have new ideas to make it out of

recycled materials. This product is only applicable for those who wants it or needs it, wants to

save money and wants to help in the environment. This is also for those who need light during the

camping usually in place where there is no source of electricity and when there are brownouts.
 Because of that, the study potentially can help ways to decrease solid waste such as

plastic container, bottles and etc. and also offers a new way of recycling them

Through the study, it will be a greater help especially the ff.

1. In re-using other waste materials.

2. In helping save money for other expenses.

3. In helping save our environment

E. Scope and Delimitations of the Study

The aspects that were covered in this study is that people could make things out of the

materials that they can found anywhere that are still useful or could still be fixed specifically of

making flashlight. Recycling helps a lot in terms of preserving the orderliness in the environment.

The product was rated by 30 respondents from the students in Good Shepherd Academy. The

product will be tested according to its durability and effectiveness of the product. Each person

will rate 1-4 wherein 4 are the highest score.

F. Review of Related Literature and Studies

A blackout is a complete interruption of power in a given service area. Rolling

blackouts are controlled and usually pre planned interruptions of service. A brownout is a partial,

temporary reduction in system voltage or total system capacity.

Blackouts come without warning, last for indeterminate periods, and are typically

caused by catastrophic equipment failure or severe weather. The nature and cause of the blackout

determines who is affected. Rolling blackouts are usually intended to affect only a specific

service area, and the energy provider will typically spread these blackouts among several service

areas to insure that no specific area suffers substantially more than any other. Planned outages

and rolling blackouts differ slightly in that planned outages are usually announced well in
advance and are most commonly needed to allow for routine maintenance, while rolling blackouts

can occur with relatively little warning and are intended to take stress off of the system's energy

load.

In most cases, brownouts are deliberately produced by energy providers as an

emergency measure to prevent the system from failing completely (blacking out). Typically a

utility will decrease system voltage by 10-25%, usually for a short period of time. This reduction

typically has minimal effect on heat and lighting systems, most of which can function reliably for

short periods on suboptimal voltage, but sensitive electronic equipment requiring reasonably

precise voltages may not be able to function and long-term brownouts can cause premature wear

in non-electronic devices. Computer disk drives often suffer write failures when supplied with

suboptimal voltage, and electric motors tend to run hotter when required to produce the same

horsepower during a brownout. Normal fluctuations in voltage do not qualify as brownouts.

System voltage in many service areas can vary by as much as five % above or below "nominal"

line voltage. Manufacturers of electrical and electronic products know this. Most North American

consumer and commercial products are designed to function normally and safely for long periods

at voltages ranging from 115 to 125 volts.

In order to lessen the impact of emergency situations, there are devices that were

made to help this kind of event, the first one is the flashlight; flashlight is defined as a small

portable light for intermittent service and has a strong beam. It consists of a metal tube about 6-8

inches in diameter which is placed a dry cell battery and at one end an incandescent bulb reflector

and bull’s eye lens. Attached to the tube is an easily operated switch. According to a website

namely bookrag.com, flashlight is a common household item, the lowly flashlight was considered

a novel toy. When it was introduced in 1898 at an electrical show in New York, the flashlight

weighed more than six pounds, and its battery alone was half a foot long. Although patents for

this device were issued to America Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Corporation in the

1890s, no single person has laid claim to this invention. The inventor of the toy electric train,
American Joshua Cowen (1880-1965), built a prototype flashlight, but used it merely to

illuminate potted flowers. When flashlights were first sold to the public, they were regarded as

amazing toys rather than practical appliances. Today’s lightweight, powerful flashlights are

considerably more convenient and useful. In most flashlights, which use incandescent electric

light bulbs, the light is focused into a narrow beam by a reflector and a lens. Small fluorescent

models are also available, and some flashlight use extremely brilliant arc lamps that can

illuminate objects in darkness half a mile (.8 km) away. Flashlight bodies can be twisted to fit

around corners, worn on bands around forehead, or hung from tent poles as they become more

versatile, lighter and brighter.