Batteries - Wet and Dry/Voltaic Pile


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 Code Number :   5E40.03  

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources.

Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA.

The University of Iowa Disclaimers:  University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :   Excellent  
Principle :   Chemical Storage of E.M.F.   
Area of Study :  Electrically & Magnetism  
Equipment :   Cutaway 1.5 volt Dry Cells, Glass Lead Acid Batteries for demonstration (2), Car Battery, 1.5 volt Dry Cells, 'AAA' Battery, 'AA' Battery, Cutaway 'D' Cell, 'D' Cell, 'C' Cell, 9 volt Battery, 6 volt Dry Cell, 49 volt Battery, 67.5 volt Battery, Alkaline Battery Mounted in Plastic.

  
Procedure :   The batteries are displayed to show what they consist of and the different types that are available. No advanced preparation necessary other than routine cleaning.  

A voltaic pile may be made using the copper and magnesium squares.  Place a copper square on the bottom, then a layer of filter paper, then an magnesium square, and then a layer of filter paper, and then another copper square, etc.  Continue this sequence until you have the desired number of layers in your pile.  Wet the filter paper with lemon juice or saturated salt water and the pile should start to produce electricity. Connect a piezo buzzer or a voltmeter to the top and bottom plates of the pile for a measurement or audible indicator.
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   Web Sites

 

The Baghdad Battery:

http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/hsclist.htm

http://www.unmuseum.org/bbattery.htm

http://www.exo.net/~pauld/activities/AlAirBattery/alairbattery.html

http://batteryuniversity.com

 

 

   References

Adam Niculescu, Peter Martin, "Making and Evaluating an Electrical Battery", TPT, Vol. 44, # 6, p. 343, Sept. 2006.

Samaroo Deonarine, "Recharging the Battery Pack in a Camcorder," TPT, Vol. 41, # 8, Nov. 2003, p. 497.

Paul Changon, "What Do Battery Testers Test?", TPT, Vol. 34, # 1, Jan. 1996, p. 16.

"Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 29, # 3, Mar. 1991, p. 190.

L.V. Hmurcik and J.P. Mincinilio,  "Contrasts Between Maximum Power Transfer and Maximum Efficiency,"  TPT, Vol. 24, # 8, p. 492, (November 1986).

H. Richard Crane, "What is the Secret of "Maintenance-Free" Car Batteries?", TPT, Vol. 23, # 7, Oct. 1985, p. 432 - 433.

Karl V. Kordesch, Klaus Tomantschger, "Primary Batteries", TPT, Vol. 19, # 1, Jan. 1981, p. 12.

R. D. Edge, "Current Electricity", TPT, Vol. 18, # 6, Sept. 1980, p. 470.

Fritz G. Will, "Sealed Batteries", TPT, Vol. 17, # 8, Nov. 1979, p. 539.

 

Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., "Plunge Battery (Photo)", AJP, Vol. 73, # 3, March 2005, p. 233.

Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., "Edison Cell (Photo)", AJP, Vol. 73, # 2, Feb. 2005, p. 121.

 

Ee-2, 3, 4:  Freier and Anderson,  A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

 

Tik Liem, "The Coin Battery," Investigation to Science Inquiry, p. 262.

 

93:  "Making a Simple Battery: The Gerber Cell," Chemical Demonstrations Vol. I.

56:  "Exciting Electricity," The Ben Franklin Book of Easy & Incredible Experiments.

Cash, Parker, and Taylor, "Battery Power," 175 More Science Experiments.

Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone,  "Chapter 20:  Power Arrangers,"  Everyday Science,  p. 72. 

Douglas C. Myers,  "Zap New Life Into Dead Nicads,"  Popular Electronics Mag.,  (July 1977).

Gerard L'E Turner, Nineteenth-Century Scientific Instruments, p. 197.

"How Batteries Supply Portable Electricity,"  Reader's Digest's How in the World,  p. 12. 

Janice VanCleave, "Battery," 201 Awesome, Magical, Bizarre, & Incredible Experiments, p. 110.

Ron Hipschman, "Hand Battery," Exploratorium Cookbook II, p. 91.1 - 91.2.

 

Frederick C. Russell "That Black Box", Mechanix Illustrated, August 1957, p. 146.

"Volta's Pile Battery," New Illustrated Science & Invention Encyclopedia.

Neil A. Downie, "Red-Hot Batteries",  Ink Sandwiches, Electric Worms and 37 Other Experiments for Saturday Science, p. 301.

Cy Tymony, "The Coin Battery", Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, p. 24.

Joey Green, "Battery Madness", The Mad Scientist Handbook, Vol. 2, p. 5.

Eveready Battery Company, "Eveready Carbon Zinc (Zn/MnO2) Application Manual", Energizer Battery Application Manual.



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille