How to Make a Circuit Experiment
Having students build a circuit experiment is a visually interesting way to teach them about electrical current and circuits. This circuit experiment uses a potato as its battery, though you can use a regular battery as well.
The potato works because it uses an electrochemical process that converts chemical energy into electric energy with spontaneous electron transfer. The zinc ions in the nails and the copper ions in the pennies react, creating an electron transfer, and the potato acts as a buffer, pushing the energy from the reaction into the clock, completing the circuit.
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Things You'll Need
- Pennies
- Potato
- Steel nails
- Alligator clip/wire units
- LED clock
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Cut the potato in half.
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2
Put the potato halves flat-side down on a table and insert the penny into the side of each potato. Make sure half of the penny is sticking out, so wires can be attached to it.
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3
Insert a galvanized steel nail into the other side of each potato. Make sure the penny and the nail do not touch.
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4
Clip one alligator clip to each nail.
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5
Connect one end of the alligator clip to the positive node inside the battery compartment of the clock. You may have to use electrical tape to secure the clip so it doesn't fall off.
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6
Clip the other alligator clip to the negative node inside the battery compartment.
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7
Connect one more alligator clip to the penny in one of the potatoes and to the nail in the other potato. You now have a circuit.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Juicy potatoes work best for this type of experiment.
Resources
- Photo Credit Fernando Mengoni
