Making Batteries out of Coins - Essay Example

Making Batteries out of Coins Making Batteries out of coins Introduction and problem analysis Energy has been a very vital aspect in the survival of humans. Since time immemorial, man has been using energy to undertake his activities, owing to the fact that energy makes work easier. Historically, humans have invented various forms of energy that support their living. Through energy, humans generated power that could drive machineries and make it possible for engines to propel large machineries and perform heavier tasks, which would otherwise be impossible. Energy has also been used for cooking, lighting, heating and running systems (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). The supply of energy is a costly and inconvenient affair for most people. This is because the natural energy, which is dependent on the conditions of the climate such as sunshine, rain or wind, is inconsistent. On the other hand, other forms of energy, such as those generated from petroleum or nuclear power, have their negative impacts on the environment (Bauer, Birk & Sawyer, 2009). Therefore, batteries were improvised to supply man with the energy required to undertake various activities, including lighting and running watches. However, batteries are expensive to purchase. Therefore, in search of a cheap source of energy, homemade batteries have been devised that use coins as the material. By using a number of coins piled together, it is possible to develop coin batteries that can supply energy in the form of electricity, which can then be applied for various uses, such as lighting (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). The essence of developing a coin battery is the fact that the materials required are readily available and in plentiful supply, making it possible to generate and supply energy from the available resources, without the need to depend on the external suppliers of energy. Hypothesis and variables The necessity of developing coin batteries is to overcome the challenges posed by other sources of energy. Most of other sources of energy are expensive, inconvenient, unreliable and detrimental to the environment. Therefore, to mitigate these challenges, coin batteries are developed. Coin batteries are less costly, environmentally friendly, and easily developed from the locally available materials, which are in plentiful supply (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). Coin batteries are forms of wet-batteries since they operate on the principle of electrolytes. Therefore, in preparing coin batteries, the electrolytes are the independent variable while the electric voltage given is the dependent variable (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). This is so because, the voltage of energy depends on the quantity of electrolytes present in the battery coin. When the quantity of electrolytes is high, the voltage of energy given is high, too. However, considering that coin battery is a form of wet batteries, the voltage will continue decreasing as the electrolytes evaporate (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). Therefore, at the start of the experiment, when the quantity of electrolytes between the coins is high, the coin battery will generate high energy voltage. However, this continues to decrease as the substance supplying the electrolytes continues to evaporate and dry out. Thus, for the coin battery, the higher is the quantity of electrolytes available, the higher is the voltage of energy generated (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). Additionally, the voltage of energy is higher during the initial coin battery generation. However, with time, the voltage continues to decrease. Therefore, the voltage of energy produced by the coin battery is dependent on the time factor. Thus, the voltage once again becomes the dependent variable while time becomes the independent variable. Consequently, the time and the quantity of electrolytes are the independent variables, while the voltage of electric energy produced is the dependent variable. Research: The process of making batteries out of coins The process of preparing a battery coin requires that an individual has five-seven coins/pennies. However, these coins need to have some copper element outside and be made of zinc inside (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). The other requirement is an absorbent material, which could either be paper or towels. The absorbent material needs to be thick enough to absorb and retain the liquid containing the electrolytes without drying out easily. Therefore, thick towel papers, blotter papers, or even pieces of cloth that absorbs liquid are preferable (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). A liquid that contains electrolytes is the other requirement for the activity to be accomplished. Therefore, salt, water and spoon are required for making and stirring up a salt solution, which will be the source of electrolytes necessary for conducting electricity. Alternatively, other liquid substances that have a high level of electrolytes such as vinegar or pure lemon juice can be used instead of the salt solution (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). A piece of sand paper, voltmeter, and LED are also required for the production of batteries. A tape is also necessary for binding together the coins and the absorbent materials between them so that they can remain intact. The process of preparing a coin battery commences with setting the voltmeter to ensure that it is ready to test any voltage generated by the coin battery made. This testing can be dome using small AA or AAA batteries, which indicates the movement of the voltmeter, a proof that it is well set and working (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). The next step is mixing salt and water to form the salt solution. The salt solution prepared should be strong enough to possess large quantities of electrolytes. To achieve this, a quarter cup of water is mixed with salt until the salt solution reaches the saturation point, where any more salt added to the water cannot dissolve. Alternatively, pure lemon juice or strong vinegar will function as the source of electrolytes. This is followed by cutting the paper or piece of cloth into pieces that are big enough to cover the coins but not to the extent of hanging on the sides (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). The pieces of the absorbent material should be cut in the shape of the coins and then immersed in the salt solution, lemon juice or vinegar, depending on the substance available for use. After this, the piece of sandpaper is used to scratch the coins until the zinc component of the coin is exposed (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). Then, this process is followed by removing the pieces of paper or cloth from the liquid and placing the scratched coins on top of them. This process is repeated for each piece of paper and each coin until the coins are piled together in a stack, with the pieces of cloth or paper containing the absorbent liquid between them (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). After completing the piling of coins with the pieces of paper containing the liquid between them, a coin battery is formed, which comprises several unit battery cells since the combination of one coin and its piece of paper or cloth containing the liquid forms a single battery cell (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). Each combination of a coin and a piece of paper containing the salty liquid should be measured for voltage independently, after which it is placed on top of the other combination when it has been proved that it is providing some electric voltage. The voltmeter is then used to measure the voltage generated through connecting it to the coin on the bottom and the one on the top of the stack. If the voltmeter reads a voltage that is sufficient to light an LED, between 1.25 V and 1.4V, then it is definite that a coin battery has been formed (Bauer, Birk, & Sawyer, 2009). Conclusion Then need for cheaper and convenient source of energy has lead to the development of coin battery, which can be applied for generating electric energy that can be used for lighting. The benefit of coin battery is that it is easily prepared from the readily and plentiful material from our homes. Coin battery is a suitable source of energy, in that it is friendly to the economy since it does not cause substantial environmental pollution. The process of preparing a coin battery is simple and quick. References Bauer, R. C., Birk, J. P., & Sawyer, D. J. (2009). Laboratory inquiry in chemistry. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, CENGAGE Learning. Read More