Electricity/battery

In this station, you will be constructing a battery that will power an LED light bulb.

Watch this video FIRST Making a battery , but do not begin. When the video has finished, follow the instructions below.

Steps

1. Take one of the cardboard strips and cut 8 pieces approximately 1/2 inch long (about the size of a penny).

2. Count out 8 pennies and 8 washers.

3. Place a penny on the table/counter.

4. Pour the lemon juice into the square, flat container.

4a. Dip a piece of cardboard into the lemon juice. It should be wet, but not dripping.

5. Place the cardboard on top of the penny and then place a washer on top of it.

6. Place a penny on top of the washer and repeat steps 4a through 6 until you have used all 8 pennies, washers, and cardboard pieces.

7. If completed correctly, a washer should be on top of the stack when finished.

8. Cut a 3 1/2 inch piece of electrical tape and place it sticky side up on the counter.

9. Take one of the white LED light bulbs and bend the bottom of the longer leg into a 90 degree angle.

10. One partner should hold the bent part of the leg on the middle of the tape while the other partner carefully places the stack of pennies/washers/cardboard on top of the bent leg. Be careful to pick it up all as one stack and do not let it slip!

11. Place the other leg of the LED on top of the stack.

12. Wrap the tape tightly so that the light cannot come loose.

13. By attaching each end of the LED to the top and bottom of the "battery," you have closed the circuit which allows the power to flow through and the light should light up. If the cardboard pieces are touching, you could end up with a "short" circuit and the light will not work.

14. If you cannot see the light, take it to the closet at the back of the room where it is dark and see if it provides any light.

15. Show your light to Miss Street.

16. Unwrap your battery.

17. Throw away the used cardboard and tape.

18. Pour the lemon juice back into the original container carefully.

19. Rinse and dry the pennies, washers, tweezers, and square container.

20. Return all items to the containers they started in.

If you have MORE than 15 minutes left, watch the video below and complete that task. Then complete steps 19 and 20 again.

battery video

If you have LESS than 15 minutes left, play the webgames section of this site. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR STATION!