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3. Voltage
The force of an electrical current that is measured in volts.
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electricity)
4. Physical Properties of Clay
Geologists define clay as extremely small particles of soil that measures
less than four micrometers in diameter. The word clay also refers to the earthly
material composed of certain kinds of silicate minerals that have been broken
down by weathering. There are two general types of clay. Expandable clay
becomes liquid when so much water is added to it while nonexpendable clay
becomes soft then mixed with water.1
1
Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, Volume#7, (U.S.A.: Rand McNally and
1996), p. 370
6
A. History of Electricity7
The ancient Greece observed that amber, when rubbed, attracted small light
objects. About 600 B.C. Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus held that amber had a soul,
since it could make other objects move. In a treatise written about three centuries later,
another Greek philosopher, Theophrastus, stated that other substances also have this
power.
For almost 2,000 years later after Theophrastus, little progression was made in
the study of electricity. In 1600 English physician William Gilbert published a book in
which he noted that many substances beside amber could be charged by rubbing. He gave
the substances the Latin name electrica, which is derived from the Greek word electron
(which means amber). The word electricity was first used by English writer and
physician Sir Thomas Browne in 1646.
The fact that electricity can flow through a substance was discovered by 17TH-century
German physicist Otto von Guericke, who observed conduction in a linen thread. Von
Guericke also described the first the first machine for producing an electric charge in
1672. the machine consisted of a sulfur sphere turned by a crank. When a hand was held
against the sphere, a charge was induced on the sphere. Conduction was rediscovered
independently by Englishman Stephen Gray during the early 1700. Gray also noted that
substances are good conductors while others are insulators.
Also during the early 1700s, Frenchman Charles Dufay observed that electric
charges are of two kinds. He found out that opposite kinds attract each other while similar
kinds repel. Dufay called one kind vitreous and the other kind resinous.
B. History of Battery8
The first battery was created by Alessandro Volta in 1800. To create his battery
he made a stack by alternating layers of zinc, blotting papers soaked in salt water, and
silver. This arrangement was known as a voltaic pile. The top and bottom layers of the
pile must be different metals. If you attach a wire to the top and bottom of the pile, you
can measure a voltage and a current from the pile. The pile can be stacked as high as you
like, and each layer will increase the voltage by a fixed amount.
C. Voltaic and Electrolytic Cells9
A voltaic cell uses a spontaneous reaction to generate electrical energy. In the
cell reaction, the difference in chemical potential between higher energy reactants and
lower energy products is converted into electrical energy. This energy is used to operate
the loadflashlight bulb, CD player, car starter motor, or other electrical device. In other
words, the system does work on the surroundings. All batteries contain voltaic cells.
An electrolytic cell uses electrical energy to drive a nonspontaneous reaction. In
the cell reaction, electrical energy from an external power supply converts lower energy
reactants into higher energy products. Thus, the surroundings do work on the system.
Note that the two types of cell have certain features in common. Two electrodes,
which conduct the electricity between cell and surroundings, are dipped into an
electrolyte, a mixture of ions (usually in aqueous solution) that are involved in the
reaction or that carry the charge. An external circuit provides the means for electrons to
flow between them.
8
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/battery1.html
D. Other Studies
A study is conducted by using potato as a source of electricity. Through copper
and zinc electrodes, juices generate electricity. Results and findings showed that it
generated 1.2V. But it didnt light up the miniature bulb; instead, it lit up the LED as
substitute for the bulb.10
Another study is conducted by using Copper Sulfate as electrolyte. Still, the
electrodes used are copper and zinc. Results and findings showed that the solution
generated 0.7V, that didnt light a 1.2V bulb.11
Another study is conducted by determining which battery lasts longer. The
batteries used are Duracell, Eveready, Energizer and BA 30 army batteries. The power
of the different brands of batteries was tested on a light bulb. There were two batteries
from each brand. Results and findings showed that the Duracell battery lasted the longest,
101 hours and 20 minutes; Energizer battery, second, 99 hours and 17 minutes; Eveready
battery, third, 28 hours and 30 minutes, and last but not the least, BA 30 batteries, 25
hours and 58 minutes.12
Another study is conducted by using lemon as a source of electricity. Copper and
steel electrodes were put on the squeezed lemon. Results and findings showed that it
generated 0.7 volts of electricity.13
10
http://www.miniscience.com/projects/potatoelectricity
11
http://www.miniscience.com/link/make_electricity.html
12
http://www.miniscience.com/projects/battery
13
http://www. energyquest.ca.gov/projects/lemon.html
A. Materials
1. Clay
The clay were got in any anthills in San Carlos Heights, Irisan,
BaguioCity
2.
B. Procedure
1. Mixing and molding
Salt and water are to be mixed with different concentrations. Then, the
solution will be mixed to the clay, to increase its electrolyte level of the clay, and
to compact the clay. Then, mold the clay to compact it.
2. Inserting electrodes and measuring voltage
Insert the copper and zinc electrodes, close but not touching each other.
Then, connect the copper and zinc electrodes to the multimeter through the use of
alligator clips.
C. Treatment
The control group of this study is the potato generating 1.2 volts. There are four
treatments in this study: S1 contains 200mL of water and 4 tablespoon of salt mixed with
700g of clay, S2 contains 150mL of water and 3 tablespoon of salt mixed with 650g of clay,
S3 contains 100mL of water and 2 tablespoon of salt mixed with 600g of clay, and S4 is the
control group.
The table below shows the amount of solution to be mixed per treatment.
Treatment
S1
200
700
S2
150
650
S3
100
600