Question /Problem
Can a potato be used to build a battery and light up a LED?
Hypothesis
If I use an electrolyte like a potato juice and two electrodes like galvanized steel and coper, then I should be able to create a small amount of electricity enough to light a LED (light emitting diode).
Research
Potatoes in general do not generate and do not store electricity. What potatoes do have that can help transfer energy is its soluble chemical property which may cause a chemical reaction between specific materials and then work as an electrochemical cell. Potatoes have stored chemical energy which in return can be converted to electrical energy that can power a small light bulb or run a clock. Potatoes are composed of starches, salt and water. …show more content…
A voltage should be present somewhere between 0.5 - 1 volt (typical for a single sync-copper potato energy cell.)
8. Record your results.
9. Repeat steps 1 and 2 and connect up to 5 potatoes.
10. Take 4 more potatoes and stick a galvanized nail to one side of each, and copper wire into another side.
11. Connect wire from first potato to the nail of second potato, wiring from second potato to the nail on third potato, and so and so forth till the 5th potato.
12. Switch voltmeter to voltage reading and make sure that the scale set to read 0-10 volt range.
13. Record your results from potato 1 to 2, then 2 to 3 and so on.
14. Connect a LED between coper nail from potato #1, and galvanized steel from potato #5.
15. Record your results..
16. The voltage at this stage should be very close to 2,5 volts CD, so the LED should light on.
Variables
• Number of potatoes
• Materials galvanized steel or zinc (not used for this experiment) and coper.
Observations / Results / Graphics / Charts As per experiment results, as we add more potatoes to the battery, the voltage increases approximately .5 volts per each potato. When we add up to 5 potatoes to the battery, the flow of current increases and with enough voltage power (2.40 volts approximately) we are able to light up a LED. The table below captures my results from the
Can a potato be used to build a battery and light up a LED?
Hypothesis
If I use an electrolyte like a potato juice and two electrodes like galvanized steel and coper, then I should be able to create a small amount of electricity enough to light a LED (light emitting diode).
Research
Potatoes in general do not generate and do not store electricity. What potatoes do have that can help transfer energy is its soluble chemical property which may cause a chemical reaction between specific materials and then work as an electrochemical cell. Potatoes have stored chemical energy which in return can be converted to electrical energy that can power a small light bulb or run a clock. Potatoes are composed of starches, salt and water. …show more content…
A voltage should be present somewhere between 0.5 - 1 volt (typical for a single sync-copper potato energy cell.)
8. Record your results.
9. Repeat steps 1 and 2 and connect up to 5 potatoes.
10. Take 4 more potatoes and stick a galvanized nail to one side of each, and copper wire into another side.
11. Connect wire from first potato to the nail of second potato, wiring from second potato to the nail on third potato, and so and so forth till the 5th potato.
12. Switch voltmeter to voltage reading and make sure that the scale set to read 0-10 volt range.
13. Record your results from potato 1 to 2, then 2 to 3 and so on.
14. Connect a LED between coper nail from potato #1, and galvanized steel from potato #5.
15. Record your results..
16. The voltage at this stage should be very close to 2,5 volts CD, so the LED should light on.
Variables
• Number of potatoes
• Materials galvanized steel or zinc (not used for this experiment) and coper.
Observations / Results / Graphics / Charts As per experiment results, as we add more potatoes to the battery, the voltage increases approximately .5 volts per each potato. When we add up to 5 potatoes to the battery, the flow of current increases and with enough voltage power (2.40 volts approximately) we are able to light up a LED. The table below captures my results from the