The Nature of Things

Portable Power (9x11)

: 26, 1968

Man's first "portable power" device was part of his own body, the energy from the contraction of long molecules in the presence of sugar: muscle power. Muscle power was amplified with primitive levers, and later by the use of domesticated beasts. Some of the modern portable power devices seen in this film are portable nuclear reactors, internal combustion engines, rockets and fuel cells.