5E40.03 - Batteries - Wet and Dry/Voltaic Pile

Code Number:
5E40.03
Demo Title:
Batteries - Wet and Dry/Voltaic Pile
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Chemical Storage of E.M.F.
Area of Study:
Electrically & Magnetism

Disclaimer

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, Large Metal (Brass and Magnesium) Battery Cell, and Electrolyte, Weston Standard Cells.
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 (this is one terminal of your voltaic pile), then a layer of filter paper, then a magnesium square, then a copper square directly on top of the magnesium square, and then another layer of filter paper.  Continue this sequence until you have the desired number of layers in your pile, and end with a magnesium square on the top (this is the other terminal of your voltaic pile).  Prep the filter paper with lemon juice or saturated salt water that has a small amount of vinegar added to it.  Connect a Piezo buzzer or a voltmeter to the top magnesium plate and bottom copper plate of the pile for a measurement or audible indicator.

Take 5 of the pennies that have one face sanded off and place them all zinc side up.  Soak 5 of the 1/2 inch square mat board pieces in saturated salt water that has a small amount of vinegar added to it.  Place a soaked piece of mat board onto each of the zinc faces.  Stack these penny-mat board pieces on top of each other, all with zinc sides facing up.  Place an intact penny on top of the stack.  Connect the red LED with the longer lead touching the intact penny and the other lead touching the bottom of the stack.  Make sure the pennies don't touch each other or that the mat board doesn't drip as both of these events will short out the battery.

The large metal battery cell is made from an outer electrode of brass and an inner electrode of magnesium.  You may use this as a show and tell demo or you can make this cell by putting 150 ml of any type of electrolyte in the cell and observe the voltage with a multimeter.  Types of electrolytes that can be used include dilute acetic acid, any regular soda such as Coke or Mountain Dew, salt water, etc.

Several Weston standard cells are also available for demonstration.

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The Baghdad Battery: Smith.edu
The Baghdad Battery: UnMuseum.org
Aluminium Air Battery
Aluminum Air Batter: Instructor Information
Penny Battery
Battery University
PDF icon The Baghdad Battery: Smith.edu PDF
PDF icon The Baghdad Battery: UnMuseum.org PDF
PDF icon Aluminium Air Battery PDF
PDF icon Aluminum Air Batter: Instructor Information PDF
PDF icon Penny Battery PDF

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.