How do you make a mouse on a wheel's energy into light energy, such as powering a light?
Answer:
If you take a small motor ( such as off a remote control car or similar) and instead of attaching the wires to a battery (as you normally would) attach them to a light bulb(something with a low voltage such as a interior light for a car). Then you will need to attach the shaft of the motor to the mouse wheel. When the mouse runs your motor will turn and will regenerate voltage. This should turn on your light. Keep in mind that this may only give you a small amount of light or maybe none at all depending on the speed the mouse runs and the voltage and wattage of the light. The size of the motor will also play a large factor in the amount of voltage you get to the light. Hope I didn't confuse you. If you need more assistance email me and maybe I can help. Note: What Rich said is the exact same concept but maybe a little easier to find the parts.
look up nikola tesla, who invented the concept and practicallity of hydro-electric/turbine power. similar concept...
what? please rephrase...
Get a small generator like the one that goes onto your bike frame and rolls along the tire to generate electricity for a little headlamp (gen is about an inch or so in diameter).
Get one of those wheels that mice run in and use the shaft of the generator as its bearing. That way when the mouse-wheel turns the generator shaft turns. You should be able to light a small lamp from that.
The two answers directly above mine have some good ideas.
I would like to add that you WILL need to use a bulb rated for low voltage and low power. A hamster/mouse running on a wheel simply doesn't have all that much mechanical power (I am guessing on the order of a Watt or two). One Christmas light bulb may work since they consume only about 0.5 to 0.75 Watts at full brightness. Furthermore, take note that no generator is perfect, so not all of the rodent's mechanical power will get to the bulb (losses).
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