Is it possible to use only a copper strip, zinc strip, two wires, and a potato to power a clock? Today the amazing ASU team helped us prove that YES you can! Students worked in small groups to assemble a circuit using the metal strips and potatoes to make a simple battery that created the electricity needed to operate a clock. Each potato worked as a device called a electrochemical cell. It converted the chemical energy stored in the metal strips into electrical energy. A cell works because of the chemical properties of the metals inside. The different properties cause tiny particle charged with electricity (called ions) to move between the two strips of metal. (find their "happy place"). This flow is an electric current. The potato contains the particles that allow the current to flow, but it stops the metals touching. Electric current also flows along the wires between the zinc and copper strips and the clock. This current makes the clock work! Our creative students didn't stop at just potatoes though! They experimented with lemons, salt water, and soda as well. Check out this great video on how batteries work. Can you make the connection to solar cells? Please create a post about what your team experimented with. Did it work? What conclusions did you make based on your results? Thank you again to the wonderful team at ASU for providing all of the materials and expertise today! Great job to everyone in STEM today, Science ROCKS!
10 Comments
Tyler Thuneman
2/23/2015 11:42:54 am
I learned a lot about electricity. I had a great time trying new items to power the digital clock. I love Stem and cant wait to build our solar robot.
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Kaya Heiman
2/23/2015 09:46:09 pm
As the president of NHS I found this experiment very beneficial. After doing this experiment I learned how energy uses a circuit and also learned about the different types of energy! By using different types of materials to show if the clock would work using them helped me understand energy better. I hope that ASU keeps coming and keeps teaching NHS how we can make the world a better place. NHS is very thankful for ASU coming to our school to help us understand energy better😃
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Collin McCorkle
2/23/2015 10:26:43 pm
I am truly shocked at what we could do to make a clock work with just food and liquids. I never knew that with just food and liquid that you can make anything work, espcially a clock!This S.T.E.M. club has really incouraged me to start thinking about the future of the world, and what we can do for it. ! I appreciate what the ASU professors and students do to make a difference in the world, I am glad that they are here.
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Laura Kaushesh
2/24/2015 07:24:00 am
I found this experiment very interesting. We used potatoes, lemons, soda, and even more! I am so grateful of the amazing ASU team to come in and help us learn!
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Aaron Miller
2/26/2015 04:19:53 am
I was "electrified" at how potatoes, lemons, Pepsi, salt water, and even people could power a clock without using any sort of battery. ASU introduced a whole new world of electricity to me. Batteries beware the new age of power is finally here, food. Thank You ASU for coming and I can not wait until next meeting!!
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Cassandra Betancourt
3/3/2015 04:13:26 am
This is the best experiement I have ever done in my entire life! It is so amazing how you can turn on a clock with just lemons, water, salt, and potatoes.
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Ian Kingston
3/4/2015 12:31:25 am
This was so much fun
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Katelyn Ropchak
3/7/2015 02:55:48 am
I was amazed that it was possible to power a digital clock with simple food items you have in your pantry such as lemons, potatoes, salt, and soda. What I found was the best part was when my groups clock first powered on using only salt. This experiment was one of the best ones yet.
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Avery Rieth
3/23/2015 07:41:05 am
This was a very fun activity!!
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Cheyenne Kristiansen
3/24/2015 11:51:31 pm
The potato clock experiment was fun and exciting. I learned about oxidation and I had a great time.
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