Super Star Scientist

Christian!

Scientist Christian was ready in his very own Mad Scientist lab coat and goggles!  He had all the materials he needed for his experiment:  pennies, strands of copper, zinc screws, potatoes, a red light, and his element cards.

Experiment:  Potato Powered Light Bulb

Objective:  Can a few pennies, some potatoes, and zinc screws light a light bulb?

Christian had prepared his experiment at home by cutting 4 potatoes in half and wrapping copper wire around 8 pennies and copper wire around 8 zinc screws.

First, he and his assistant, Mom, stuck one penny with wire into each potato and then placed one zinc screw into another area of each potato.

This is what it looked like when they were finished!

Next, they connected the wires to an LED light.

Finally, when he held the wires tight to the light, it lit up!!

Conclusion:

The juices in the potato chemically react to both the copper penny and zinc screw creating an electrical current strong enough to power a small LED.