How to make a lemon battery

Amazing things sometimes happen around. It turns out that the battery can be made not only from vegetables - potatoes are suitable, but from citrus fruits. And best of all from lemon. The craft itself is simple and is a good demonstration of the physical processes that students study.

The idea of ​​using lemon juice in batteries is not new. It has been known since 1800 according to the experiments of Alessandro Volta, who invented a battery from interconnected zinc and copper plates and a gasket between them, which he soaked in lemon juice.

There are two options for a lemon battery. To implement the first one you need: lemon; two copper conductors of 10 cm length, 0.2... 0.5 mm thick, having isolation; paper clip from steel wire; a small light bulb (one that fits into a pocket torch).

Start with stripping the ends of the conductors from insulation by 2... 3 cm. The end of one wire is screwed to the smaller side of the paper clip.

Prepare a lemon. He is kneaded in his hands so that the internal partitions collapse. Then, a cut is made in the peel to the width of the paper clip. At a distance of 2... 3 cm from him arrange a puncture with a sewing needle.

A paper clip is inserted into the notch with the free side, and the end of the second conductor is inserted into the puncture. Apply the free ends of the wires to the base and top of the base of the bulb - it should light up. If this does not happen, then several lemons are connected in series with the conductors, increasing the “battery” power. One lemon has about 1 W.

To implement the second option, you need to stock up: lemon; copper coin; galvanized nail; two pieces of copper wire; a light bulb.

Two cuts are made in the peel of a lemon close to one another. The ends of the conductors cleaned from insulation are attached to the nail and coin, after which they are placed in previously arranged incisions. The free ends of the wires lead to the light bulb - it will light up.

The operation of batteries on a lemon is explained by the fact that there is an acidic environment inside it. A galvanized paper clip or nail placed in it serves as a negative electrode and emits free electrons. Copper is a positive electrode, a strong oxidizing agent and attracts them. If the circuit is closed by a light bulb, then the electrodes begin to flow from the anode (zinc) to the cathode (copper wire, coin). Electricity appears in the circuit, which “lights” the light bulb.