Battery Lab

You will learn about batteries and then how to create and test a battery, thus transforming chemical energy into electrical energy.

* Option 1: Watch Search for the Super Battery. While you are watching, complete the questions on page 1 of the Battery Lab Assignment.

* Option 2: Watch Who Killed the Electric Car? While you are watching, complete the questions on the Who Killed the Electric Car? assignment.

Then do the Battery Lab This lesson follows pages C-34 through C-46 of the Energy Text.

Complete page 2 of the Battery Lab Assignment (including the written parts in your journal).

Safety Notes:

• Always wear goggles during this lab

• Keep the motor dry

• Treat the metal strips gently, as they can break

Wet Cell Battery Recipe:

• 25 ml warm water

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 35 drops of hydrogen peroxide

1. Add salt and 35 drops of hydrogen peroxide to water and swirl

2. Pour into wet cell

Part 1: Observations of various combinations of metals

1. Pick two metals (as directed by your lab sheet), and thoroughly dry and then shine metals with steel wool.

2. Clip a wire to each metal, then clip the other ends of the wire to the motor.

3. Lower the pieces of metal into the outer-most slots of the wet cell leaving a little bit sticking out.

4. Observe, measure and record how fast and how many rotations in 1 minute for the motor.

5. Remove the metals, dry them, and shine them with steel wool.

Part 2: The effect of distance between metals

Procedure:

1. Using copper (cu) and zinc (zn), follow the steps in part 1.

2. Then, move the copper (cu) one cell closer to the zinc (zn) and repeat.

3. Continue moving the copper closer to the zinc and repeat.

4. On your data sheet in the "Cell Location" column, circle the cells where you had each metal for each trial, and in the "Results" section, write in both the general speed and number of rotations in one minute.

Part 3: The effect of reversing connections

Procedure:

1. Using copper (cu) and magnesium (mg), follow the steps in part 1.

2. Then, switch the clips onto the other metals.

3. On your data sheet in the two "Results" sections, write in both the general speed and number of rotations in one minute.

Part 4: The effect of metal surface area

Procedure:

1. Using metals of your choosing, follow the steps in part 1.

2. Then, slowly pull out the metal strips and observe what happens when the metal is only partway in the liquid.