In Springs, a visiting inventor observes a family harvesting coconuts on Mammoth Island using devices called springs. Springs come in two shapes: there are coil springs, and there are bending bars -- called "leaf springs" -- which is what the Islanders use to improve their coconut collecting. Springs store potential energy when they are stretched or compressed. This stored energy is transferred to the energy of motion - causing the coconuts to go flying through the air!

Teacher's guide available under Additional info tag.

Animated. Based on the book by David Macaulay "The Way Things Work.".