Frogs Legs, Peas Frogs Legs, Peas and Potatoesand Potatoes

Alternative to BatteriesAlternative to Batteries Introduction:Introduction:We have been looking at different ways to We have been looking at different ways to

make batteries from several different food make batteries from several different food substances. We have looked at five substances. We have looked at five different substances and have carried out different substances and have carried out an experiment to see if they can carry an an experiment to see if they can carry an electrical current. The food and drink we electrical current. The food and drink we have chosen are the following: Carrot, have chosen are the following: Carrot, potato, vinegar, salty water, banana and potato, vinegar, salty water, banana and mashed potato. We also experimented by mashed potato. We also experimented by using the same electrodes. using the same electrodes.

Aim of the ExperimentAim of the Experiment

The aim of this experiment is to find The aim of this experiment is to find substances which would make a substances which would make a homemade battery and follow out an homemade battery and follow out an experiment to collect the data. Our experiment to collect the data. Our main plan was to find the substance main plan was to find the substance with the highest and lowest voltage. with the highest and lowest voltage.

EquipmentEquipment

CarrotCarrot PotatoPotato VinegarVinegar Salty waterSalty water BananaBanana VoltmeterVoltmeter Two Different metals (Iron, Copper)Two Different metals (Iron, Copper) BeakerBeaker WiresWires

Voltmeter

2.6

MethodMethodTake your substance and place your two Take your substance and place your two

different metals in it. Connect the wires to different metals in it. Connect the wires to the metals and then connect the other end the metals and then connect the other end of the wires to the voltmeter. Then see if of the wires to the voltmeter. Then see if the voltmeter recognises that a current is the voltmeter recognises that a current is passing through it. If so the substance you passing through it. If so the substance you have chosen has passed as a homemade have chosen has passed as a homemade battery. If not there must be something battery. If not there must be something blocking the current and it’s a good idea to blocking the current and it’s a good idea to find out what. find out what.

Fruit/ VegFruit/ Veg Type of Type of electrodes 1electrodes 1

Type of electrodes Type of electrodes 22

Voltage Voltage Extra ingredientsExtra ingredients

Potato Potato CopperCopper Iron Iron 0.500.50 N/AN/A

CarrotCarrot CopperCopper IronIron 0.460.46 N/AN/A

BananaBanana CopperCopper Iron Iron 0.480.48 N/AN/A

Vinegar Vinegar (80ml)(80ml)

CopperCopper Iron Iron 0.500.50 N/AN/A

Salty Water Salty Water (80ml)(80ml)

Copper Copper Iron Iron 0.510.51 Salt Salt (2 tsp)(2 tsp)

Salty water Salty water (80ml)(80ml)

Copper Copper Iron Iron 0.420.42 Salt Salt (6 tsp)(6 tsp)

Mashed Mashed potato potato

CopperCopper Iron Iron 0.240.24 N/AN/A

Potato Potato CopperCopper Copper Copper 0.020.02 N/AN/A

ResultsResults

ConclusionConclusionWe tried experimenting with several We tried experimenting with several

different substances but in our results different substances but in our results the best was the salty water with only 2 the best was the salty water with only 2 tsp. On the other hand the potato using tsp. On the other hand the potato using the same electrodes was the worst. We the same electrodes was the worst. We also experimented with mashed also experimented with mashed potatoes, unfortunately the results were potatoes, unfortunately the results were twice as bad as a raw potato. All the twice as bad as a raw potato. All the results varied from 0.02 – 0.51. results varied from 0.02 – 0.51.

Voltmeter

2.6