Bohol Wisdom School High School Department S.Y. 2016-2017
Investigatory Project Science 7
MAKING ELECTRICITY USING VINEGAR Submitted by: Name: Group 4 Year/Sec: Grade 7- Quartz Submitted to: Jeanna Idul. RN
Abstract
Battery or more precisely, a cell – is a device in which reaction between two substances can be made to occur in such a way that some of the chemical energy is converted to useful electricity. Since its invention, the battery has become the most common power source for many households and industrial applications. There are so many ways to construct a battery as well as ways to control its generated output. This Vinegar Battery is a battery that is constructed out from simple components. Adding the vinegar with a strip of copper wire and zinc forms a simple battery. Low amperage devices, such as digital clock, calculator and small bulb can be easily supplied by this battery. Another good thing about this battery is that it is absolutely environmental friendly and it is much cheaper than the other types of battery. It does not
contain any toxic that is hazardous and dangerous to human’s health and it is very easy to construct. And most specially, it does not have any effect in the ozone layers like the fossil fuels do. It is considered as a renewable source of energy because it can be naturaly replenished.
Introduction
This homemade vinegar battery is based on two different metals suspended in an acid solution. Produce electricity from vinegar, which acts as the electrolyte. Electricity is generated by reaction of two different metals (the electrodes) with the vinegar (the electrolyte). So you can just place two different kinds of metal in a conducting solution and that’s It you get a battery!
Background of the study
This is just a really fun science project and easy to do
Statement of the Problem
We need to power up the LED light by putting the copper nail (+) and the zinc nail (-) and creating the electric current
Hypothesis
We need to use the plastic cups, nails, copper wire, and vinegar so that we can generate enough electricity to power up the LED light
Significance of the Study
This method only works with red or white vinegar although you can use water and if u have only few plastic cups then you will not generate enough electricity to power up the LED
Scope and limitation of the study
We need more than 4 to power up the LED and we need COPPER wire and Zinc Nails only
Review of Related Literature
You’ll need two different kinds of metal, for example copper and zinc and some acid liquid. The copper is the + and the zinc is the - . Electrons travel from the - through the electrolyte (acid) to the + and creates an electric current
Methodology
You’ll have to gather A few plastic cups A few zinc coated nails (or strips of aluminum foil) Some (old) copper wire Vinegar The copper wire you can get from for example an old or new power cord. You can do this with one, or in this case- 9 plastic cups. Fill the plastic cups with vinegar. Doesn’t have to be the rim If you stripped the copper wire from the power cord, cut it in about 2 inch pieces (about 5 cm.) and tie one end to a nail If you have 9 cups, repeat this with 8 other nails.
When you’re done, put one end of a copper wire in one cup, and the nail which is tied to it in another cap. Then take another nail and put in a new cup and its copper wire with the nail from the first one. Don’t let the metals touch each other (it won’t electrocute you if it happens, there is hardly enough current to produce any sparks). Serial battery for more power! You’re now basically wiring a serial battery. Every cap with a nail and copper wire is one vinegar battery! So now if you’ve done that, your battery is reading for use. So the first cap has a nail and the last one a copper wire. If you have a multimeter, hook it up to see how many volts you’re getting. Now, mine showed a voltage of around 4 volts.
Not enough to run your fridge with it unfortunately, but I found a LED somewhere from an old garden light and hooked it up. It’s still burning after 4 days! You can try making diy batteries with all kinds of stuff, I got 0.5 volts from buttermilk and icetea. Salt water also works. If you connect a Joule Thief to it you might actually charge a battery with this one!
Conclusion
Once the Vinegar Battery is connected to the LED, you create a “complete” or closed circuit. As the electrons pass through the LED, the electrical energy excites atoms inside it and they emit a specific wavelength of color as they fall back to a lower energy level. You see it as a lighted LED. The electrons pass continuously one way through all of the components unless the circuit is “broken” or opened. Because an LED needs a specific direction of electrons passing through it to glow and you happen to put the “legs” into the battery backwards, it won’t light up. Just reversing the wells the legs are in makes it all good, the flow is right, and you’re rewarded with a glowing LED.
Recommendation
Only use zinc nails and copper wire and it might work better with red or white vinegar
References
http://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/ Science Book
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