Have you ever thought about using vegetables as batteries? Batteries generate electricity by moving electrons back and forth between two metal plates. What if you don't have batteries, but have a large supply of potatoes? Potatoes contain phosphoric acid, which can serve as a chemical solution needed to transport electrons back and forth between metal plates. By placing a metal plate on a potato, you can make a battery with just a few household items!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Potato Batteries
Step 1. Prepare the materials needed
To make a single potato battery, you will need one potato, galvanized nails, a copper coin (you may have to find an old coin), two alligator clips with clamps on both ends, and a voltmeter.
- Galvanized nails are ordinary nails with a zinc coating. You can buy it at a hardware store or hardware store.
- Use fresh potatoes because the success of the experiment depends on the moisture content in the potatoes.
Step 2. Drive a galvanized nail into the center of the potato
Push the nail into the potato until it almost reaches the other side. It doesn't matter if the nail goes through the other side, you just need to pull it so that the tip of the nail doesn't stick out the other side.
- The potato juice will come out at this step, but that's okay.
- Cover the surface of the work area with plastic or newspaper so that the potato juice doesn't get everywhere.
Step 3. Insert the copper coin into the potato about 2.5 cm from the galvanized nail
Repeat the same steps as before with the copper coins. Make sure the nails and coins don't touch each other inside the potato. If the two touch, it cannot be considered a complete circuit and the battery will not produce any voltage.
- If you find them touching, you can simply rearrange the nail and coin so they don't touch each other again.
- The distance between the nail and the coin doesn't have to be exactly 2.5 cm, but try to keep them close to each other.
Step 4. Connect the tip of the voltmeter to the coin with the help of alligator clips
The voltmeter has a black and red probe tip. Connect the copper coin to the red probe tip using alligator clips.
Some voltmeters have black and yellow probe tips instead of black and red. In this case, you should use the yellow probe tip
Step 5. Use the second clamp to connect the galvanized nail to the other end of the probe
The galvanized nail must be connected to the black probe tip.
Make sure the alligator clip is firmly attached to the nail and probe tip
Step 6. Check the results shown on the voltmeter display
You should see a slight increase in voltage. If the voltmeter shows a negative value, you can simply swap the clamp on the probe tip and you will see a positive voltage.
If the resulting voltage is very low, try moving the nails and coins closer together. Be careful not to let the two touch the inside of the potato
Method 2 of 2: Operating the Watch with Multiple Potato Batteries
Step 1. Prepare the materials needed
To make a potato battery, you will need 2 galvanized nails, 2 copper coins, 2 potatoes, 3 alligator clips with tongs on both ends, and a small clock.
- Galvanized nails are ordinary nails with a zinc coating required for this experiment. You can get it at a hardware store or hardware store.
- To get copper coins, you can also look for them at hardware stores or hardware stores.
- The color of the alligator clips doesn't matter, as long as both ends are equipped with tweezers.
- Use fresh, firm potatoes. The liquid in the potato is required for this experiment. Dried potatoes won't work.
- Remove the battery from the watch before you start.
Step 2. Drive a galvanized nail in the center of each potato
Press firmly so that the nail almost reaches the other side of the potato. If you accidentally push it through the other side, don't worry! Just pull the nail so the end is no longer sticking out.
- Potato juice may seep out when you drive in the nails, but that won't affect the experiment.
- To make cleaning easier after the experiment is complete, cover the work area surface with newspaper or a plastic bag.
Step 3. Place a copper coin in each potato, about 2.5 cm from the nail
Repeat the same steps as before with the copper coins and make sure the coins don't touch the galvanized nails.
- At this point, each potato should have one galvanized nail and one copper coin driven about 2.5 cm apart.
- The exact distance between the two is not important, just make sure the nails and coins are close enough without touching each other.
Step 4. Connect the two potatoes with one alligator clip
Attach one clamp to the nail in the first potato and the other to the coin in the second potato. This step will fine-tune the circuit for the battery.
- After completing this step, the two potatoes should be connected to each other, and with a clock.
- Make sure all clamps are securely attached.
Step 5. Attach one clip to the coin and the other to the positive side of the battery compartment on the watch
Look at the battery compartment and find the (+) sign on one side. Attach one of the tongs to this positive side, while the other end to the copper coin in the first potato.
- Make sure the clamps are securely attached to the nails and battery compartment.
- This step allows you to make the first connection to the battery circuit.
Step 6. Attach the second clamp to the galvanized nail on the second potato and the negative side of the battery compartment
The other side of the battery compartment will show a (-) sign. Install the clamp on the negative side. Attach the other end of the clamp to the galvanized nail in the second potato.
- Again, make sure the clamp is securely fastened.
- Now each potato will be connected to the clock, but not to the other potatoes. One of the wires must be attached to the copper coin in the first potato and the second wire must be attached to the galvanized nail in the second potato.
Step 7. Check if the clock is working
At this point, the second hand on the clock will move (if you are using a digital clock, the number indicating the seconds will run). The clock is operated entirely by potato battery! If the watch doesn't work, check that you attach the correct clamps to the battery compartment. Copper coins must be connected to the positive pole and galvanized nails to the negative pole.
- If the clock still doesn't work, try swapping the clamps.
- Also make sure you use fresh potatoes.
- After the experiment is complete, remove the clamp that connects the two potatoes and replace the watch battery.
