Uploaded December 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
An unbalanced electrostatic pinwheel pendulum is paired with an inverted yo-yo in this LEGO clock escapement, exchanging energy cyclically. As the pinwheel rotates clockwise, it lifts the yo-yo’s suspended weight—powered by both gravitational potential (from the blue weight) and electrostatic charge transfer.
When the yo-yo reaches its peak, it descends, returning energy to the pinwheel. During counterclockwise rotation, a bobbing pin advances the escape wheel by one tooth. The motor’s electrical input compensates just enough for axle friction.
Unlike a traditional yo-yo, which stores energy as rotational kinetic energy, the inverted version stores it primarily as gravitational potential.
View a series of clock escapements powered by electrostatic force:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCbYhDNjOviFDr28b6FfLKd3jKW7fMr8j
#legoescapement #LegoClockEscapement #ElectrostaticMotor #legoclockmechanism #yoyo
#simpleharmonicmotion
An unbalanced electrostatic pinwheel pendulum is paired with an inverted yo-yo in this LEGO clock escapement, exchanging energy cyclically. As the pinwheel rotates clockwise, it lifts the yo-yo’s suspended weight—powered by both gravitational potential (from the blue weight) and electrostatic charge transfer.
When the yo-yo reaches its peak, it descends, returning energy to the pinwheel. During counterclockwise rotation, a bobbing pin advances the escape wheel by one tooth. The motor’s electrical input compensates just enough for axle friction.
Unlike a traditional yo-yo, which stores energy as rotational kinetic energy, the inverted version stores it primarily as gravitational potential.
View a series of clock escapements powered by electrostatic force:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCbYhDNjOviFDr28b6FfLKd3jKW7fMr8j
#legoescapement #LegoClockEscapement #ElectrostaticMotor #legoclockmechanism #yoyo
#simpleharmonicmotion
