|
| Select Framework:
|
 |
| Loading... |
|
|
|
Title
|
Electrochemical Cells
|
|
Type
|
Primary: Laboratory
|
|
Operation
|
Infinite Potential
|
|
Mission:
|
Mission 2: Waves of Change
|
|
Print Page
|
41
|
|
Subjects
|
Physical science | Electricity | Batteries | Science as inquiry | Science process skills | Modeling | Science
|
|
Grades
|
5 | 6 | 7 | 8
|
|
Keywords
|
DART buoy, D-cell, alkaline, battery, zinc, magnesium dioxide, electric, current, electrochemical cell, LED
|
|
Duration
|
01:00:00 (HH:MM:SS)
|
|
Audience
|
Teachers | Elementary Grades | Junior High
|
|
|
Created On
|
3/30/2009
|
|
Copyright
|
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
|
 |
From: Infinite Potential Mission 2: Waves of Change (pp: 41) |
 |
|
|
Electrochemical Cells In this activity, you will construct and explore the properties of a basic electrochemical cell. Then, you will assemble a battery pack using these cells and use the pack to power an LED. |
|
|
|  Dr. Titov monitors ocean activity using information collected by tsunameters located on the ocean floor. DART® buoys receive information from tsunameters and transmit this data to satellites using specialized onboard electronics. Electronic transmitting and receiving devices on both the DART® buoys and tsunameters are powered by D-cell battery packs. Each battery pack contains a set of electrochemical cells. Like household batteries, these cells store chemical energy. As the cells’ electrodes react, an electrical current is produced. This flow of electrons travels through an external circuit that powers the connected electronic device. In this activity, you will construct and explore the properties of a basic electrochemical cell. Then, you will assemble a battery pack using these cells and use the pack to power an LED. |  |
|
|
| Lab Prep |
- Insert an iron washer halfway into a small piece of potato.
- Insert a copper penny into that same potato piece. Make sure that the penny and washer are separated by several centimeters.
- Attach one lead from the multimeter to the washer. Attach the other lead from the multimeter to the penny. Set the multimeter to DC voltage detection. What do you observe? Would changing the leads affect the measurement? Test your prediction.
|
|
| Make Observations |
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 from Lab Prep to produce a second copper-iron cell. Measure the voltage of this single cell. How does it compare to the first cell you assembled? Explain and explore any difference in measurements.
- Use one wire with alligator clips to connect the two cells. The wire should be attached to the washer of one cell and the penny of the other. Once the cells are wired together, attach the multimeter leads to the unconnected penny of one cell and the unconnected washer of the other. Record and explain your observations.
- Suppose you were to keep on adding additional cells. How might each additional cell affect the generated voltage? Create a hypothesis. Then, test your predictions by adding two more cells to the setup.
- Remove the multimeter from the circuit. Wire in a low-power LED in the place of the multimeter. Did you generate enough voltage to light up this device? If not, add additional cells to the circuit. HINT: The LED needs to be connected with the correct polarity. If it does not illuminate, try switching the connection wires.
 | Journal Question
Identify the different types of batteries you are aware of and explore the differences and variety of uses. | |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|