Generating Voltage: Creating energy for a cell

Making a Voltaic Pile

cell Purpose

To make a battery with enough voltage to light a bulb VOLTAGE

ENERGY FOR THE CIRCUIT

MEASURES AMOUNT OF ENERGY BETWEEN TWO POINTS IN THE CIRCUIT

MEASURED IN VOLTS (V) Making a Voltaic Pile

Electrolyte

Electrode

Cell

Battery cell Making a Voltaic Pile

Electrolyte liquid that can conduct electrons

Electrode metal or solid conductor

Cell basic unit of energy in a circuit

Battery combinations of cells Materials steel wool up to 10 pieces of copper up to 10 pieces of zinc COPPER AND ZINC ARE

2 pieces of wire Conductors Blotting paper lemon juice voltmeter Lemon Juice is an Electrolyte Basic procedure

1. Polish copper and zinc pieces if necessary with steel wool. 2. Cut out circles in the blotting paper (about the size of the penny). 3. Soak paper circles in lemon juice. 4. Create a “pile” by stacking the conductors and the electrolyte. Start with zinc, then a piece of paper and ending with a penny. 5. Connect one wire to the penny, the other to the zinc. 6. Measure voltage. 7. Add more cells (layers) to the original and measure voltage. Stop after 10 cells have been measured. Dependent variable: Independent variable: Constant variables:

Hypothesis: Quantitative Data Title:

Independent Variable Dependent Variable Qualitative Data

______

Graph Making a Voltaic Pile – variable change

Choose one of the following:

Different metal: Aluminum Different electrolyte: Lime juice, salt water, vinegar (acetic acid), Gatorade

Thickness of layers

Making a Voltaic Pile – variable change

New Independent variable:

New constants:

Hypothesis:

Modified procedure: Making a Voltaic Pile – variable change

Collect data Graph data Compare data to 1st experiment

Write a conclusion: Be sure to discuss both experiments, support each one with evidence, explain which test worked better and why using scientific reasoning