For this lab were learning that we can use pennies to make simple batteries. The batteries have a voltage and put out amps. The voltage is the energy stored the battery and the amps is the flow of electrons. In our battery, we manipulate the flow of electrons to charge LED's.
A battery needs to have 3 things in this order to work; an anode a cathode and an electrolyte.
Materials-
A battery needs to have 3 things in this order to work; an anode a cathode and an electrolyte.
- Anode: An anode is an electrode through which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device (the negative charge of a battery)
- Cathode: A cathode is the electrode from which a conventional current leaves a polarized electrical device (the positive charge of a battery)
- Electrolyte: a chemical medium that allows the flow of electrical charge between the cathode and anode.
Materials-
- 6-7 pennies from after 1983
- Thin cardboard
- Sandpaper
- Vinegar
- 1 LED
- Aluminum foil
- Electrical Tape
What Happened-
Process-
First we sanded down one side of the pennies so that the Zinc was exposed
Process-
First we sanded down one side of the pennies so that the Zinc was exposed
Then we cut small pieces of cardboard about the size of the pennies. We took the cardboard and soaked it in vinegar
We then stacked the materials a piece of tin foil at the bottom then the copper sided of a pennie , then a piece of the cardboard we repeated that four times will a pennie on the very top.
Making sure the cardboard was not touching another peice of cardboard we put the leads of the LED's on the top of the pennie stake and the tin foil bottom. If done correctly the LED would turn on which it did for our group. We also wrapped the basic battery with electrical tape.
Success
We then stacked the materials a piece of tin foil at the bottom then the copper sided of a pennie , then a piece of the cardboard we repeated that four times will a pennie on the very top.
Making sure the cardboard was not touching another peice of cardboard we put the leads of the LED's on the top of the pennie stake and the tin foil bottom. If done correctly the LED would turn on which it did for our group. We also wrapped the basic battery with electrical tape.
Success