Description: A demonstration Stirling Engine made by American Stirling Company, Model MM-4.

The engine will run if placed on a dish of crushed ice, or if placed on a mug of hot water. The manufacturer points out that the engine will run if placed on an ice cream cone, but this is messy to clean up. The working volume may be filled with helium which makes the engine run faster.

Cautions: Handle with care. DO NOT USE dry ice or liquid nitrogen. DO NOT USE anything hotter than hot water.

Concepts demonstrated:

Setup Time: Short

Difficulty/Commitment: Straightforward

Visibility:

References: PIRA 4F30.10
American Stirling Company "MM-4 Educational Engine Instructions"
Crane, H Richard "The Stirling Engine - 173 Years old and Running" How Things Work, The Physics Teacher 28(4), 252-3 (April 1990)
Ross, Andy "Stirling Cycle Engines" Solar Engines 1981 (copy in demos)
There are many web sites devoted to Stirling engines. Here are a few to start from:
The Little Engine Pages
Stirling and Hot Air Engine Ring
Koichi Hirata's Page