Make A Penny Battery

How-to make a battery with pennies and other household items.

(By MathKid: a proud Woodlawn second grader!) – make your own battery using basic household items!  You will learn how to produce energy with the help of chemistry using pennies and washers.  You are also challenged to use different metals and see what happens!

See video for how-to demonstration!

 

Journal Questions
  1. What did you power with the battery?
  2. How much voltage did your battery make?
  3. What kinds of metals did you use?

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Topics

ScienceEngineeringTechnology
Grade Level
2-3
4-5
6-8
9-12
K-1

Creator

Picture of Math Kid

Math Kid

2nd Grader at Woodlawn. Love experimenting!

Materials

Supplies:

  • Cardboard
  • Vinegar
  • Salt
  • Electrical Tape
  • Pennies (1981 or older) for copper*
  • Zinc* washers

Note: *there are many metal combinations besides copper/zinc that will work, experiment!

Tools:

  • Scissors
  • Cup
  • Something to power (e.g. LED and/or voltmeter)