fruit batters\ies

Fruit Batteries : 

Fruit Batteries Sabrina Krebs Santiago Ibarguen Sung Won Lee Grade 11

Introduction : 

Introduction Enclosed materials convert chemical energy to electrical energy through redox reactions. Fruit (enclosed material) can produce electric currents Acidic fruits: pH of 1-6 Base fruits: pH of 8-14

Problem : 

Problem How will different fruits’ pH affect the amount of electrical current generated?

Hypothesis : 

Hypothesis The lower the pH of a fruit is, the more energy it will generate, and the brighter the bulb will lit.

Research : 

Research Voltaic batteries are enclosed materials Fruits can be enclosed materials = Fruits can act like Voltaic batteries

The Experiment : 

The Experiment

Preparation : 

Preparation Experimental Group Control Group Independent Variable Dependent Variable Control Group

Materials : 

Materials

Procedure : 

Procedure Measure pH of fruit with pH paper Cut fruit with knife in four equal pieces

Slide 10: 

Insert zinc nail and copper penny into fruit Connect the cathodes and anodes to make a circuit with the LED

Slide 11: 

Repeat with other fruits Use the same system with water

Data: Lemon : 

Data: Lemon

Data: Orange : 

Data: Orange

Observation: Orange & Lemon : 

Observation: Orange & Lemon

Data: Apples : 

Data: Apples

Data: Pineapple : 

Data: Pineapple

Observation: Pineapple & apple : 

Observation: Pineapple & apple

Data: Banana : 

Data: Banana

Data: Water (control) : 

Data: Water (control)

Observation: Banana & Water (control) : 

Observation: Banana & Water (control)

Discussion : 

Discussion The energy to light a bulb comes from the reduction-oxidation reactions when metals and acids in the fruit meet. Oxidation: zinc nail loses electrons when it meets the fruit’s acids Reduction: copper gains electrons that were lost by the zinc nail Overtime, zinc anode becomes positive and copper cathode becomes negative, lighting the bulb with the circuit of electrons.

…Discussion : 

…Discussion The most acidic fruits created the strongest electric current because acids are the base for the redox reactions to take place. (ex. Lemons, oranges)

Sources of Error/Improvement : 

Sources of Error/Improvement Micro Ammeter Pennies

The Real World : 

The Real World

Conclusion : 

Conclusion Our hypothesis was correct! When a fruit has a zinc anode and a copper cathode connected to a LED bulb, the higher the pH, the more electrical current will be generated.

Bibliography : 

Bibliography “Battery (electricity).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)>. Buckley, Patrick, and Lily Binns. The Hungry Scientist Handbook. London: Harper Paperbacks, 2008. Print. Cooperative Extension Service; University of Kentucky, and College of Agriculture. “Water Content of Fruits and Vegetables.” College of Agriculture. University of Kentucky, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ca.uky.edu/enri/pubs/enri129.pdf>. “Electrical Conductivity: Measuring Salts in Water.” lake. Access. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.lakeaccess.org/russ/conductivity.htm>. “Lenntech”. “Water Conductivity.” Lenntech, Water Treatment Solutions. Lenntech, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.lenntech.com/applications/ultrapure/conductivity/water-conductivity.htm>. "Make Your Own Lemon Battery." EMR Labs. Quantum balancing, n.d. Web. 26 Oct.2010. <http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/lemon_battery.htm>.   O'Malley, John. Schaum's Outline of Basic Circuit Analysis. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1992. Print. Parker, Lorin. Electric Curcuit Experiments: Conductivity of Acids. eHow. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/video_4936282_electric-circuit-experiments-conductivity-acids.html>.   Schlesinger, Henry. The Battery: How Portable Power Sparked a Technological Revolution. New York City: Smithsonian, 2010. Print. Sciencefairadventure.com. “Fruit Battery Power.” Sciencefairadventure. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.sciencefairadventure.com/ProjectDetail.aspx?ProjectID=154>. VanCleave, Janice. Janice VanCleave's Electricity: Mind-boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects. N.p.: Willey, 1994. Print.