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How do devices such as cuckoo-clocks produce energy to keep moving?
Like, I have a cuckoo clock and the little "ticker" goes back and forth indefinitely. Where does it get the energy to do that? There are no batteries and I don't touch it. I have a feeling the answer is simple but I don't know.
4 Answers
gravity pulls down on the weights that are hooked to a chain that is attached to a cog wheel that activates the inner workings of the clock.....
Such devices are driven by variations of atmospheric pressure. There is a sealed flexible can inside the clock, which contracts during periods of high atmospheric pressure, and expands during periods of low atmospheric pressure. The can winds up the spring.

There are, of course, modern variations which are powered by solar cells and other.
The standard cuckoo clock is powered by weights attached to chains. It is necessary to "wind" the clock from time to time by raising the weights.
the only one I'm familiar with has heavy weights on chains
....once per week the weights have to be put back (raised)

they fall slowly as they are geared to the escapement

someone else in your household winds your cuckoo clock up
or adjusts the weights (I suggest) or it's some other form of input
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