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In the story, Robo’s power cell gets its strength from burning trash. Burning organic material to create energy is being done today.
Did you know that you could make your own power cell out of a potato? While this is not the same process as burning trash, it is an interesting way to use natural materials to create power. The following instructions will help you make a potato battery. The galvanized nails and the alligator clips can be purchased at your local hardware store. Ask an adult for help.
Materials
•1 black marker
•2 potatoes
•2 pennies
•2 galvanized nails
•3 alligator clip test leads in three colors
•1 digital clock or flashlight that uses a 1-2-volt battery
Steps
1. Use the marker to draw a number one on one of the potatoes and a number two on the other.
2. Remove the battery from the clock.
3. Take a look at the positive (+) and negative (-) locations where the battery came from.
4. Push one nail into the top end of potato #1.
5. Push the edge of one penny into the opposite end of the same potato. Be sure and keep the penny as far from the nail as you can.
6. Repeat the process of inserting the other nail and penny into potato #2.
7. Take the first alligator clip and hook one end to the penny on potato #1. Hook the other end to the positive terminal in the battery compartment of the clock or flashlight.
8. Take the second alligator clip and hook one end to the nail on potato #2. Hook the other end to the negative terminal in the battery compartment of the clock or flashlight.
9. Take the third alligator clip and hook one end to the nail in potato #1. Hook the other end to the penny in potato #2.
10. You should have power! If your clock or light did not turn on, read through the steps again to see what went wrong. If you’re still stuck, ask your parents to help you look up videos online for “How to make a potato battery.” There are lots of different ones out there that can help you.
How does it work?
Electricity comes from a chemical reaction. The zinc that coats the galvanized nail is negatively charged. When it meets the acid of the potato, it creates a chemical reaction that sends electrons up the wire in the alligator clip.
The copper penny is positively charged. It accepts the electrons that are coming up the wire in the alligator clip. That creates an electrical circuit that sends energy to the clock or light.
You can also try this experiment with other foods like bananas, oranges, lemons, tomatoes, or even gleeshee melons, if you can find one.