1. Making Batteries
David Baerenstecher
Physics 10
Experiment Date: 7/8/15
Group Mates:
Kyle House
Maunella Henein
Anja Ghose
Abstract:
This report focuses on the properties that allow an object to be able to store electric charge.
Our intentions were to discover the effects of the material used, and what causes said effects.
As expected, out of the three materials tested, a small amount of Mountain Dew soda had the
highest potential difference. This confirmed our hypothesis that the acidity of the material
effects how voltage is created.

2. Principals:
When zinc touches the lemon juice, containing citric acid, a chemical reaction takes place. The
metal dissolves to form zinc ions, which release energy. The copper does the same to form
copper ions. When a circuit is made between the zinc and the copper outside the lemon,
electrons go out the negative zinc end and into the copper electrode. The citric acid inside the
lemon is what dissolves a tiny portion of both the copper and zinc which allow them to form
ions.
Experimental Setup:
In order to find which material had the greatest potential difference, our group designed an
experiment using the materials we were testing, a galvanized zinc nail, and a copper electrode.
The materials we tested on was a lemon, a potato, and Mountain Dew soda. To find the needed
information, we used one digital multimeter. For the potato and lemon, we simply
stuck the zinc nail and copper electrode in the material as shown in figure one.
Experimental Procedure:
To find the data needed for the lab, we attached the two leads from the multimeter to
our two terminals protruding from the lemon. This created
a circuit with current flowing from the zinc nail, through the
multimeter, and back to the copper electrode. We then set
Figure one.

3. up the potato and soda in the same configuration. Lastly, we chained all three materials
together to see what the net voltage from all three would be.
Data:
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Chain 2.62 -2.63 2.63
Soda 1.06 -1.06 1.07
Lemon 0.87 -0.88 0.89
Potato 0.77 -0.77 0.77
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
PotentialDifference(ΔV)
Voltage per Material
Trial Potential Difference (ΔV) Current (µA) Resistance (Ω)
1 0.77 290.0 2655
2 -0.77 -285.5 2697
3 0.77 283.1 2720
1 0.87 180.2 4828
2 -0.88 -178.5 4930
3 0.89 179.6 4955
1 1.06 122.0 8689
2 -1.06 -125.0 8480
3 1.07 125.1 8553
1 2.62 360.0 7278
2 -2.63 -357.0 7367
3 2.63 356.0 7388
ChainSodaLemonPotato

4. To support our hypothesis, the three materials combined (chain) had the greatest potential
difference. However, the material with the most potential difference was the soda. The next
highest was the lemon, with the potato last.
Analysis:
The soda created the most potential difference out of all of the materials. This is because of the
high concentrate of citric acid found in the soda. The next highest amount is in the lemon, and
finally the potato has the least amount. This is because the potential difference depends on
how efficiently the zinc and copper is dissolved. In soda, they dissolve quicker than in the
potato. The total voltage from the chained experiment could also be calculated by simply
adding up the three individual voltages.
Equations Used:
The only equation needed for this lab which was Ohm’s Law. Ohm’s Law states that the
resistance in a circuit is calculated by dividing voltage by current, or volts per amperes.
𝑅 =
𝑉
𝐼
Error Analysis:
The lab was generally straight forward so we didn’t encounter too many errors. We made sure
to take accurate reading using the multimeter. The only error we encountered was a slight one.
When we attempted to measure resistance, the multimeter could not do it due to an overload.
This error was simply avoided by recording the current and then calculating the resistance using
Ohm’s Law.

5. Questions:
Compareand contrastyourobservationsforeach battery.
The soda had the largest amount of potential difference; however, the potato had the
highest amount of current flowing through it. The soda had the largest resistance out of
the three materials.
Develop possibleexplanationsforany differencesorsimilarities in yourobservations.
Soda has the highest amount of citric acid in it, which drives the chemical reaction to
dissolve the two electrodes. The potato, having the lowest amount of citric acid, was the
weakest.
Howdo yourindividualmeasurementsforthepotentialdifferenceacrosseach of the batteriesin the
circuit compareto the total potentialdifferenceof the threebatteries? Isthe battery acting as one
“super”battery?Explain.
When the three objects are all chained together, it acts as a “super” battery giving off a
voltage more than doubled of what the soda initially had. The net potential difference is
calculated by adding the three individual potential differences up.
Which electrode “collects” the positive charge?Which electrode “collects” the negativecharge?How
can you tell?
The copper electrode “collects”the positive charge while the zincnail “collects”all of the
negative charge formthe material. A chemical reactiontakesplace whenthe metal hitsthe acid,
causingthe zinc to dissolve andlose electrons,thusgatheringnegativecharge.

6. Conclusion:
This lab was rather enjoyable. Creating my own battery was very interesting. It was also cool to
find out how batteries work and what the battery acid is actually used for. We discovered that
the level of citric acid is directly proportional to how much potential difference our battery
would give off. Mountain Dew, being the most acidic material we had, had the highest level of
potential difference. The potato had the lowest amount of citric acid and also the lowest
amount of potential difference. I now know to always keep a can of Mountain Dew and some
zinc and copper on me at all times.