Activity Overview
In this activity, students make a battery using different fruits and vegetables, a copper penny, and a zinc washer. They use a voltage probe to collect data on voltage and compare the values of different batteries.
Before the Activity
Install the CBL/CBR Application on the students' graphing calculators using TI Connect™ or a TI-GRAPH LINK™ Connect the TI-73 to the CBL 2™ unit Connect the voltage probe to the CH1 port of the CBL See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity Print pages 163 - 178 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to your class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Create slits 1 cm apart in the item tested as battery makers
Insert the copper penny and zinc washer into the slits
Connect the positive lead to the penny and negative to the zinc
Observe the readings on the calculator
Repeat the activity with the other fruits/vegetables and by placing the electrodes at different distances
Plot a graph of voltage readings versus type of electrolyte
For each battery set up collect readings every 99 seconds for a period of nearly 3 hours
Observe the plot of voltage versus time and examine the rate of change in voltage over time
Create a manual fit for this data
Identify the item that made the best battery and the battery with the most staying power
After the Activity
Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis Sheet and answer questions listed in it.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary