Applied Science | Monday | 11.09

[tyler_gone]

The lab tables had potatoes, wires, nails, and cheap digital clocks on them this morning. One of these things was not like the others.

"We're making potato batteries today," Tyler said, explaining the odd assortment. "What you're doing is using the potato to transfer electrochemical energy. Now, a battery is a device that converts chemical energy directly to electrical energy.[21] It consists of a number of voltaic cells; each voltaic cell consists of two half cells connected in series by a conductive electrolyte containing anions and cations ...." He went on for a while, thoroughly explaining the science.

"The potato's not important. The potato's just acting as a buffer between the zinc in the nails and the copper in the wire. You can do pretty much the same thing with lemons, pickles, apples ... you get the idea."

"Pair up and use this handout to make potato batteries. Extra credit if you find a better way to do it."

Comments

Re: Talk to the TAs [11/09]

[tyler_gone]

Tyler was too old, too wise and too cranky to argue with a look like that from a student. He leveled his own look back -- a kind of 'don't glare at teachers, young man' thing -- but it was distinctly half-hearted.

"... don't hurt yourself with the headbanging," he decided.

Re: Talk to the TAs [11/09]

[furnaceface]

//Right, then,// Jonothon agreed. That seemed fair enough to him. No prying, no suggestions that he'd have to go through any sort of pains to shoot down. Just one relatively useful bit of advice that he'd probably take, because he wasn't in any mood to have to bandage up more of himself than usual.

... And then he got on with it. It was only an occasional forehead-thump, anyhow.