How to Create a Penny-Powered Battery

Are you tired of constantly buying expensive packs of batteries for your household appliances? Did you know that creating a battery using spare pennies lying around your house is possible? Yes, you read that right! By following a few simple steps, you can make a working battery using common household items. Not only is this a valuable skill to have when in a pinch, but it also makes for a fun science experiment for kids. Read on to discover how to create a penny-powered battery.

Materials Needed

Before you start, you will need to gather some materials. For the penny battery, you will need:

– Three pennies
– A small strip of paper towel
– A piece of aluminum foil
– Salt
– White vinegar
– A pair of scissors
– A small glass or plastic container
– A multimeter or LED light

Creating the Penny Battery

Step 1: Prepare the Experiment Area

Firstly, it’s essential to ensure that your experiment area is clean and organized. It would help if you had a flat surface to work on to avoid any accidental spills or breakages.

Step 2: Cut the Paper Towel Strip

Using your scissors, cut the paper towel strip to resemble the size and shape of a penny.

Step 3: Add Salt and Vinegar Solution

Mix a small amount of salt with vinegar in a container. Dip the paper towel strip in the solution, soaking it entirely. Once the paper towel is thoroughly drenched in the salt and vinegar solution, squeeze out the excess liquid.

Step 4: Create the Penny Stack

Take two of the pennies and lay a piece of aluminum foil over them. Stack the third penny on top of the foil, which will complete the set of three. Moreover, the aluminum foil will act as a conductor for the battery.

Step 5: Add the Paper Towel Strip

Place the salt and vinegar-soaked paper towel strip between the top penny and the aluminum foil.

Step 6: Test Your Battery

The battery is now complete and can power small devices like a LED light or multimeter. To test your battery, connect the positive (red) lead of the multimeter or LED light to the top penny and the negative (black) lead to the aluminum foil. The LED light should light up, and the multimeter will show a voltage reading of around 1.5 volts.

Precautions and Safety Measures

Whilst creating a penny battery is an exciting experiment, it’s essential to take safety measures to avoid any unnecessary accidents. Here are some precautions to take while creating the battery:

– Ensure that the room is well-ventilated.
– Read the instructions carefully before starting and take it slow.
– Keep away from children’s reach and always supervise children while conducting the experiment.
– Wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles.
– Avoid ingesting any of the materials used even in small quantities.

Conclusion

Creating a penny-powered battery is not only a useful skill to have, but it can also make a fun and exciting science experiment for children. Follow the steps mentioned above and gather your materials to create your penny battery. Make sure to take all the necessary safety measures while conducting an experiment. In conclusion, next time you run out of batteries, look no further than your spare change jar, and create your penny-powered battery.