Oiling Engines with Dessert

During Christmas Break at the Museum of Steam and Technology, we held a drop-in program for kids exploring the Science of Ice and Snow. One of the activities included making ice cream in a ziplock bag. So before taking a tour of the 45 foot tall steam engines in the museum, one little boy visiting with his sister and parents had frozen desserts on the brain.

On the packing deck of the Pumphouse, I started discussing some of the jobs that had to be done to make the engine work – one of which was to oil the engine. For little kids, I explain the process in this way: First, to illustrate the concept of friction, I get kids to rub the palms of their hands together quickly, creating heat. Then I tell them that when the engine is turned on, all the big metal parts moving creates friction. If there is too much friction, the engine might break down. So, they fixed the problem by putting something slippery on the moving parts, to reduce the amount of friction. 

Then I asked them what kinds of things they might use to make the engine parts slippery. The little boy on this tour very earnestly and enthusiastically suggested “ICE CREAM?!”  

Now, the oilers at the Hamilton Waterworks originally used things like lamp black and melted down sheep’s fat (mutton tallow) to make the engine slippery. But I think ice cream could work. This kid is on to something.