Enviro Battery (Yina Yang)

There are 2 types of electrical currents: direct current and alternating current. In this particular demonstration, the featured electrical current is direct current. The image to the right shows how an electrical current is generated by the movement of electrons. Electrons are released when immersed in some form of electrolyte. When electrons are released, electrons will join the next atom, which causes the atom to release one of its electron. The released electron will join the next atom and the cycle continues passing the electron creating an electrical current. In this demonstration, two pairs of connected zinc and copper plates are inserted into some kind of aqueous medium such as potatoes and lime to serve as the battery to power the small watch. The zinc plate serves as the negative electrode and the copper serves as the positive electrode. When both zinc and copper are immersed into the electrolyte, the acid in the electrolyte breaks down the atomic structure of the copper and zinc releasing individual electrons. Because zinc is more reactive compared to copper, zinc will generate electron faster than copper. The excess electrons from the zinc plate flow to the copper plate, which has less electron. This flow of electron from a reactive metal to less reactive metal generates a current that powers the small watch.

In the case of the "freaky fork," the fork serves as the positive electrode since most utensils are plated with a metal that is less reactive than zinc. Once again, electrons flow from the more reactive zinc to the less reactive fork.

Questions

Everyday examples of the principles illustrated

1. Batteries are used in everyday life from cell phones to cars. In a regular AA battery, there two ends: positive and negative ends. Electrons flow from the negative end to the positive end of the battery generating the electrical current to power any electrical device.

Photos