PhyzLab Springboard: The Lemon Battery --- Clinical & Descriptive

Clinical:

a)

Materials:

• 1 - lemon half or wedge
• 2 - galvanized (zinc-coated) screws
• 1 - napkin/paper towel
• ∞ - our ingenuity and resourcefulness
• 1 Ammeter

Purpose:

• The purpose of this lab was to use the materials above to create a design that generated a source of charge greater than 0.50 volts. Our goal was to achieve this within the time frame of one class period and then use our ingenuity and resourcefulness to create the highest charge possible.

b)

We organized all of our materials (lemon, screws, paper towel and ammeter) and as the experiment was about to begin we took the time to give a shout out to Dean Baird, before starting our testing.

We found a good working design and captured it in a picture. This design involved placing the positive (red) tong directly in the lemon and the (black) negatvie tong on the screw (which was screwed deep into the lemon) created a voltage of 0.89V (well above our goal of 0.50V).

After rearragning our design shown above, we found a better design that created a voltage of 1.15V. As we were very proud of our result, we presented it with our hands (making 1.15V).

c)
We accomplished our goal by first going through with a simple desgin (both screws in the nail with a tong from the Ammeter on each) and then working from their. After rearranging our materials in various ways, we accomplished our goal of atleast 0.50V (0.89V) with the following design: one screw in the lemon, the black tong (negative) touching the screw and the red tong (positive) placed directly in the lemon.

Descriptive:

d)
Hypothesis:

• We hypothesize that the following design will generate a source of charge of at least 0.50V: place both screws deep into the lemon and attach the red (positive) tong to one screw and the black (negative) tong to the other.

e)

During this photo we were all thinking about how we were going to achieve our goal of a voltage over 0.50V. With only a lemon, two screws and an ammeter we were limited in our materials, but not in our thinking. We were thinking that it would probably be best to begin the experiment by doing something simple like putting both screws in, connecting a tong to each and then working from there. We struggled, however, to find a design that would generate a sufficient charge because our initial design didn't work.

During this photo we were all thinking of how great it was to find a design that exceeded the goal of 0.50V. We were thinking that our design of putting the positive tong in the lemon and the negative tong on the screw worked to perfection. Also, as we looked at this design, we were thinking of different ways that we could possibly achieve an even higher voltage. We thought of using such materials as pennies or quarters to boost the voltage. Although we struggled working off of the initial design, once we achieved 0.89V all struggles were gone and we simply began thinking of ways to maximize our charge.

During this photo we were thinking that it was probably best to stick with a final high of 1.15V and call it a day as time was running out in the period and we had the highest voltage in the class. We were all thinking of different ways that various materials could possibly boost up the voltage even more, but to no avail. Therefore, we all thought it best to stick with 1.15V and show it off in a picture (note the voltage that our hands make). 

f)

Conclusion:

• During this lab we used a lemon wedge, two screws, Ammeter, paper towel and our ingenuity and resourcefulness to generate a source of charge of atleast 0.50V. In the end we generated 0.89V the first time and then rearragned our design to generate 1.15V (the highest in the class). We learned that it is indeed possible to generate a charge, that equals or exceeds that of a battery, without using a battery. Although it may seem like a myth, by simply playing around with the design of the materials it is possible. If we could change the lab, we would have liked to have pennies as a supply, more lemon and, if possible, more screws. Also, with another class period, we believe that we would have been able to generate an even higher voltage. We can apply what we learned from this lab to many real life situations. One that really stands out is lighting a lightbulb. If one is stuck in a darkroom with only a lemon, a screw(s) and a lightbulb, we believe that it would be easily pssible to light the bulb. Also, on a larger scale, someone may be able to generate a charge to jump the battery on their car.