How to Make Lemon Batteries!

Summary

Branch Education's video script guides viewers through the hands-on activity of building a lemon battery to power an LED. It requires simple materials like copper pennies, galvanized nails, and lemons. The script emphasizes safety, instructs to break up lemons to release juices, and details the step-by-step process of inserting nails and pennies, and connecting them with copper wire. The activity involves creating a series of three lemon batteries for sufficient voltage. The video concludes with the successful illumination of an LED, demonstrating the generation of electricity from everyday items. It also teases a follow-up episode that delves into the science behind the experiment.

Takeaways

• 🍋 The video is a tutorial on building a lemon battery by Branch Education, emphasizing a hands-on approach to learning about electricity.
• 🔧 Materials needed for the activity include copper pennies, galvanized nails, lemons, wire, and tools such as wire cutters.
• 👷 Safety is highlighted, advising not to eat or drink the lemons used and to be cautious with sharp objects like nails and wire cutters.
• 📝 Detailed instructions for the activity are provided in the video description, and adult supervision is recommended for children under 12.
• 🍹 The process begins by activating the lemons by pressing and rolling them to release juices, which is crucial for the battery's function.
• 📌 Four nails are inserted into one side of the lemon, touching each other to create a conductive surface.
• 🪙 Copper pennies are then inserted on the opposite side of the lemon, with a wire coil placed between them to ensure a good connection.
• ⚡ The lemon battery requires a significant copper surface area to function properly, and the copper pennies must not touch the nails.
• 🔌 To light up an LED, multiple lemon batteries are connected in series to increase voltage, as a single lemon battery does not provide enough.
• 🔋 The final step involves labeling the lemon batteries and connecting them in series with copper wires to create a 'super lemon battery'.
• 💡 Success is achieved when the LED lights up, demonstrating the conversion of chemical energy from the lemons into electrical energy.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of the activity described in the script?

The primary goal of the activity is to build a lemon battery to power an LED using copper pennies, galvanized nails, and lemons.

What materials are needed to build the lemon battery according to the script?

The materials needed include copper pennies, galvanized nails, lemons, wire, and wire cutters.

What is the significance of pressing and rolling the lemon before starting the activity?

Pressing and rolling the lemon helps to break up the internal structures and release the juices, which is necessary for the battery to function.

Why should the nails be placed as close as possible and touching one another in the lemon?

The nails should be close and touching to ensure a good electrical connection between them, which is crucial for the battery's operation.

What is the purpose of making punctures on the other side of the lemon with the wire?

The punctures allow the copper pennies to be pushed into the lemon, creating a separate connection from the nails and facilitating the flow of electricity.

Why is it important to ensure that the copper pennies do not touch the nails inside the lemon?

If the copper pennies touch the nails, it would create a short circuit, preventing the battery from generating electricity.

What does the script suggest if the LED does not light up with just one lemon battery?

The script suggests that one lemon battery does not provide enough voltage to light the LED, and multiple batteries need to be used in series to increase the voltage.

How many lemon batteries are needed to create a 'super lemon battery' capable of lighting the LED?

Three lemon batteries are needed to create a 'super lemon battery' that can light up the LED.

What is the purpose of labeling the lemons #1, 2, and 3 when combining them in series?

Labeling the lemons helps to keep track of the connections and ensures that the batteries are correctly linked in series to increase the overall voltage.

What safety precautions are mentioned in the script for this activity?

The safety precautions mentioned include not eating or drinking the lemons or objects used, and being careful with nails, wire, and wire cutters to avoid injury.

What is the broader educational objective of this activity beyond building a lemon battery?

The broader educational objective is to provide an in-depth understanding of electricity, including concepts such as voltage and current, through a hands-on activity.

Outlines

00:00

🍋 Lemon Battery Introduction and Safety Tips

This paragraph introduces the concept of building a lemon battery, a hands-on science activity that uses lemons, copper pennies, galvanized nails, and wire to power an LED. The video aims to provide an in-depth understanding of electricity through this activity. It also outlines the necessary materials and tools, and provides a link to a step-by-step procedure in the description. Safety tips are emphasized, warning against eating or drinking the lemons due to the leaching of metal from the nails, and to exercise caution with the use of nails, wire, and wire cutters.

🛠️ Building the Lemon Battery Step by Step

The paragraph details the step-by-step process of building a lemon battery. It begins with preparing the lemon by pressing and rolling it to release juices. Then, it instructs to push nails into one side of the lemon, followed by puncturing the opposite side with a wire and inserting copper pennies. The copper wire is coiled and flattened before being pressed into the lemon between the pennies. Additional pennies are added to ensure sufficient copper surface area. The paragraph also mentions the possibility of adding a second shorter coil of wire for a better connection. It emphasizes the importance of not allowing the copper pennies to touch the nails, as this would prevent the battery from functioning.

🔋 Creating a Super Lemon Battery to Power an LED

This section explains how to increase the voltage of the lemon battery by creating a 'super lemon battery' using three lemon batteries in series. It describes the process of building two more lemon batteries identical to the first and then connecting them in series using copper wire and tape to label the lemons. The copper wire from one lemon is wrapped around the nails of the next, and additional copper wire is used to designate the negative and positive terminals. The LED is then lit by connecting the negative and positive wires to the respective legs of the LED, demonstrating the successful generation of electricity from the lemon battery setup.

💡 Reflecting on the Lemon Battery Experiment

The final paragraph wraps up the lemon battery experiment by encouraging viewers to think about the questions posed throughout the video, with answers and further explanations to be provided in the next episode. It also invites viewers to troubleshoot any issues they might have encountered by referring to the description for solutions. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video, and to engage with the content by posting questions or ideas in the comments section. The paragraph also mentions the branching topics that will be explored in future episodes, such as voltage and current, lithium-ion batteries, and a deeper understanding of electricity, while reminding viewers to appreciate the simplicity and complexity in the world around them.

Keywords

💡Lemon Battery

A lemon battery is a type of voltaic pile, which is a simple battery created using lemons as the electrolyte. In the video, the lemon battery is the central theme, demonstrating how everyday objects can be used to generate electricity. The lemon acts as an electrolyte, providing a medium for the chemical reaction to occur between the copper pennies and the galvanized nails.

💡Copper Pennies

Copper pennies are used as the anode in the lemon battery. The copper reacts with the acidic lemon juice, creating a flow of electrons and thus generating electricity. In the script, the pennies are pressed into the lemon, ensuring a good connection with the lemon's juice and the wire that completes the circuit.

💡Galvanized Nails

Galvanized nails serve as the cathode in the lemon battery. They are made of iron coated with a protective layer of zinc. In the video, nails are pushed into the lemon and are in contact with the lemon juice, which helps to complete the electrical circuit and generate a flow of electrons from the copper pennies.

💡Electricity

Electricity is the flow of electrons and is the main focus of the video. The lemon battery is an example of how electricity can be generated through a chemical reaction. The script explains the process of creating a lemon battery to power an LED, illustrating the practical application of electricity.

💡LED

An LED, or light-emitting diode, is a type of semiconductor device that emits light when an electrical current passes through it. In the video, the goal is to power an LED using the electricity generated by the lemon battery, showcasing a practical use of the electricity produced.

💡Voltage

Voltage is the electric potential difference between two points. The script mentions that one lemon battery does not provide enough voltage to light the LED, which is why multiple lemon batteries are connected in series to increase the overall voltage and successfully power the LED.

💡Series Connection

A series connection is a way of linking multiple batteries or components so that the current flows through each one in turn. In the script, three lemon batteries are connected in series to increase the voltage, which is necessary to light up the LED.

💡Copper Wire

Copper wire is used to connect the components of the lemon battery and to create a complete electrical circuit. The script describes using copper wire to coil around the finger, flatten it, and press it into the lemon between the pennies to ensure a good electrical connection.

💡Safety

Safety is an important aspect highlighted in the script, emphasizing the need for caution when handling the materials used in the lemon battery, such as nails, wire, and wire cutters. Additionally, it advises against eating or drinking the lemons used in the activity due to the leaching of metal from the nails.

💡Super Lemon Battery

The term 'super lemon battery' refers to the setup created by connecting three lemon batteries in series to increase the voltage output. This concept is introduced in the script to demonstrate how combining multiple simple batteries can produce enough power to light an LED.

💡Science

Science is the systematic study of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. The script uses the phrase 'This is science!' to emphasize the educational aspect of the activity, encouraging viewers to engage in hands-on learning and exploration of electricity and chemical reactions.

Highlights

Build a lemon battery to power an LED using copper pennies, galvanized nails, lemons, and science.

The activity involves a hands-on approach to understanding electricity.

Materials and tools needed for the activity are listed in the description.

Safety tips include not eating or drinking the lemons or objects used due to leaching of metal from nails.

Begin by breaking up the internal structures of the lemon to release juices.

Insert 4 nails into one side of the lemon, ensuring they are close and touching each other.

Create punctures on the opposite side of the lemon for inserting copper pennies.

Coil copper wire around a finger, flatten it, and press it between pennies in the lemon.

Ensure there is enough copper surface area and a good connection from the pennies to the wire.

Avoid contact between copper pennies and nails to prevent short-circuiting the battery.

One lemon battery does not provide enough voltage for an LED, so build 3 in series.

Label the lemons and connect the copper wires from lemon to lemon using tape and pliers.

Designate one wire as 'negative' and another as 'positive' for the LED.

Press the negative and positive wires to the respective legs of the LED to light it up.

The super lemon battery demonstrates electricity generation using everyday items.

Questions for further thought are provided to deepen understanding, with answers in the next episode.

Troubleshooting tips are available in the description for any issues encountered.

The episode branches into exploring lemon batteries, voltage, current, lithium-ion batteries, and electricity.

Reflect on the conceptual simplicity and structural complexity in the world around you.

Transcripts

Building a Lemon Battery by: Branch Education

When life gives you lemons, make a lemon battery!

You just need a few copper pennies, some wire, galvanized nails,

those lemons life gave you, and science!

This episode is a hands-on activity where we build

a lemon battery to power an LED.

Whereas the follow-up episode goes under the rind

to explore the physics and underpinning science around how all this works.

These episodes will help provide an in-depth understanding of electricity.

Let's switch out of animation and get started building the battery.

For this activity you'll need these materials, and you'll also need these tools.

A step by step procedure is linked in the description.

If you're under 12, ask an adult before starting this activity.

Also, a few tips for safety:

don't eat or drink any of the lemons or objects that we use.

This is because the metal in the nails leaches into the lemons

and eating that isn't good for you, so, just- don't,

and be careful with the nails, wire, and wire cutters- don't hurt yourself.

So now let’s build this lemon battery and start generating electricity.

First, take a lemon and press and roll it on the counter to break up some

of the internal structures in the lemon and release the juices.

Second, push 4 nails into one side of the lemon.

The nails should be as close as possible and touching one another.

Third, cut a good length of wire, about yey long and use it to make

a small row of punctures on the other side of the lemon, away from the nails.

Now push a penny into the lemon where you made the row of punctures.

Then press a second, and then a third penny into the lemon.

Fourth, take the copper wire and loosely coil it around your finger a few times,

flatten the coil, and press it into the lemon between two of the pennies.

To make sure there’s enough copper surface area,

push in a few more pennies.

This is science! But not exact science, so have fun with it.

You may want to add a 2nd shorter coil of wire into the lemon

and attach it to the first like I’ve done here.

The goal is to have a lot of copper surface area in the lemon

with a good connection from the pennies to the wire.

Also, make sure that the copper pennies don’t touch any of the nails inside the lemon;

if they were to, the battery wouldn't work.

And that's it! You built a lemon battery.

Now let's try and light up this LED. Annndd… it doesn't work,

and that's because one of these lemon batteries

doesn't provide enough voltage to light the LED, and therefore

we have to use 3 of these batteries in series to make a super lemon battery.

So, fifth, let's build 2 more lemon batteries identical to the first.

In order to combine the power from 3 batteries and make a super lemon battery,

we are going to place them in series.

To do this we’ll use some tape and a marker to label the lemons #1, 2, and 3.

Now, take the copper wire from lemon #1 and

use the pliers to wrap it tightly around the nails on lemon #2.

And then do the same with the copper wire from lemon #2,

by wrapping it around the nails on lemon #3

Next cut an additional length of copper wire, and wrap it around the nails on #1,

and then tape and label this wire “negative”. Then, tape and label the copper wire out of #3 as “positive”.

To light the LED, take the negative wire and press it to the shorter leg on the LED

and take the positive wire, and press it to the longer leg.

It works! You just generated electricity using some lemons, nails, wire, and copper pennies,

and then used that electricity to power an LED and produce light! Good job!

Our super lemon battery is done! Here are some questions for you to think about:

Consider them and we'll explain the answers and more in the next episode,

so stick around for that! Also, if you had issues with your lemon battery,

read the description to troubleshoot; probably the answer will be in there.

Thanks for watching, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with others!

If you have any questions or ideas, post them in the comments below.

This episode branches to: exploring lemon batteries,

voltage and current, lithium ion batteries, and understanding electricity.

Also remember to think about the conceptual simplicity,

and structural complexity throughout the world around you.

Made by Branch Education