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A science experiment to try at home.

March 24th, 2006 · 2 Comments
Environmental Studies




You have each been given some blotting paper, aluminium foil, wire and a bulb.

Carry out the instructions below.  Write a short report on your experiment, telling us if you were able to light the bulb or not.  Did you have any difficulties?  Did you try to explore the idea by, for instance, changing the number of coins?

Do you have any ideas about why it works?

  1. You can make a simple battery by using a pile of ten 2p coins interspaced with blotting paper and foil.
  2. Cut out some round shapes from the blotting paper and aluminium foil (a little larger than a 2p coin).
  3. Soak the blotting paper in salty water.
  4. Place a piece of foil over a 2p coin and a piece of salty blotting paper on top of that. Repeat these layers to make a small pile.
  5. Fix the end of a piece of wire underneath the pile and another on top. Now connect the free ends of the wire to your bulb. 
  6. Does it light?

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2 responses so far ↓

  • 1    Karen // Mar 24, 2006 at 7:06 am

    There must be some sort of reaction between the salt, water and aluminium that creates electricity but I don’t understand how this happens.

  • 2    edina // Jun 12, 2006 at 6:16 am

    beautiful online information center. greatest work… thanks

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