Computers/Robotics/Electronics Projects

Question: What Are the Best Liquid Conductors of Energy?

Summary: This experiment explores the kinds of liquids that are the best conductors of energy when splitting the molecules of water through electrolysis.

Materials Needed:

(Any of The Materials Highlighted in Blue are Clickable Links for Purchasing)

9 v Battery

Small Electrolysis Apparatus  

Distilled Water

Baking Soda

Lemon Juice

Table Salt

Dishwashing Detergent

Stopwatch

Pen and Paper for Taking Notes

Project Procedure:

1. Set up the Electrolysis apparatus following the instructions, connecting it to the 9 v battery using the leads.
2. Slowly fill the reservoir with distilled water. Add a pinch of baking soda to create an electrolyte mixture.
3. Use the stopwatch to measure how long it takes for gasses to be formed in the test tubes. Record your observations about these gasses. Is there more gas in one test tube than the other? What gasses do you think are being formed there?
4. Discard the baking soda solution, clean the test tubes and repeat this procedure with the following:
   1. Distilled water and lemon juice
   2. Distilled water and table salt
   3. Distilled water and dish detergent
5. Create a hypothesis about the differences that you observed.

Question: Can You Make a Battery Out of a Potato?

Summary: In this experiment, a potato is used to create an electrochemical battery, in which chemical energy is converted to electrical energy through spontaneous electron transfer. The energy created is enough to power a digital clock.

Materials Needed:

(Any of The Materials Highlighted in Blue are Clickable Links for Purchasing)

2 Medium Potatoes

2 Cans of Soda

2 Oranges

2 Small Grapefruit

1 Potato Clock Kit  

Pen and Paper for Taking Notes

 Project Procedure:

1. Follow the instructions included with the kit to set up the experiment. Place the potatoes in the two receptacles and observe the effect when connected as instructed.
2. Repeat the set-up process using the 2 cans of soda, the 2 oranges and the 2 grapefruit. Observe and record the effect when using these different items as a buffer during the electron transfer.
3. Record a hypothesis about what is happening during this experiment.