1
Gather your materials.
For this battery you’ll need one
plastic cup (6 to 8 ounces), two 3/4-inch-wide strips of metal that are taller
than the cup, and one tablespoon (14.79 ml) of salt. Each strip must be a
different type of metal, but you can choose which type: zinc, aluminum, and
copper are popular choices. In addition, you’ll need a pair of scissors, a
voltage meter, and 2 electrical lead wires with alligator clips at both ends.
- A variation on this recipe is
to add one teaspoon (4.93 ml) of salt, one teaspoon (4.93 ml) of vinegar,
and a few drops of bleach to the water instead of one tablespoon (14.79
ml) of salt. If you choose this variation, be careful, as bleach is a
hazardous chemical.
- Metal strips, electrical lead
wires, and voltage meters are available at hardware stores. You should
also be able to find lead wires at shops that sell electrical components.
2 Fill a
plastic cup 3/4-full with water.
Note that
the cup doesn’t absolutely have to be plastic. It just has to be non-metallic.
Styrofoam and paper cups will also work.
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3 Add 1
tablespoon (14.79 ml) of salt to the water and stir.
It’s the same process if you decide to follow
the salt, vinegar, and bleach variation.
4 Place
the two metal strips into the cup.
Ensure that the strips are touching the
saltwater and extending past the cup’s rim. If the strips are too short, bend
them so that they hang off the cup’s rim and dip into the solution.
5 Attach
the lead wires to the metal strips.
Attach one lead wire to one metal strip using
an alligator clip. Then, attach a different lead wire to the other metal strip,
again using the alligator clip.
- Be careful not to let the
alligator clips touch the water.
- It doesn’t matter which color
attaches to which strip.
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escstop
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shift + ←→slower / faster (latest Chrome and Safari)
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12…6 seek to 10%, 20%, …60%
6 Test
the battery.
Following
the instructions that come with your voltage meter, connect a lead wire from
each metal strip to the voltage meter. The meter should read your battery’s
voltage at roughly 3/4 of a volt.