Measurement of Work and Power in a Coffee-Mug Stirling Engine as a First-Year Physics Laboratory.

This article presents a low-cost experimental setup using a coffee mug, a low delta-temperature gamma-type Stirling engine, and a USB-compatible gas pressure sensor for first-year calculus-based physics laboratories. The setup requires minimal modifications—drilling a hole in the Stirling engine’s top plate to attach a Luer lock fitting and 3D printing a spool for the driveshaft—and allows students to measure pressure and calculate work done by the engine, which correlates well with theoretical predictions. The paper also discusses the theory behind Stirling engine pressure-volume (P–V) diagrams, the phase relationship between pressure and volume, and compares calculated work to mechanical work measured by lifting weights. Appendices provide adaptations for different educational levels and a sample student lab procedure, emphasizing accessibility and pedagogical value.