Basic Electric Circuit
One of the electricity science fair projects that you can do this all by yourself, just ask your parent's permission to use the cutting knife!
You will need the following materials:
1 copper coin
1 silver coin
2 alligator clip electric wires, with alligator clips on each end
1 lemon
1 small light bulb or a clock
1 9 volt battery (some of these already come with light bulb attachments specifically for experiments) knife
Instructions:
Take your lemon and give it a good roll. This will release its juices.
Take one of the alligator clip wires and clip the copper coin.
Take the other alligator clip wires and clip the silver coin.
Attach the other ends of the wires to the positive and negative parts of your battery. The copper coin should attach to the negative and the silver coin to the positive.
You may already attach your small light bulb or the clock to the battery system.
Take a knife and cut a slit on one end of the lemon, and then cut a similar slit on the other end of the lemon
Stick one coin on one end of the lemon, and at the other end, stick in the silver coin. Is the bulb lighting up?
What happens when you squeeze the lemon?
Concept Explanation:
This could be one of the easiest electricity science fair projects! The acid in the lemon coming from opposite ends is able to conduct a small electric current through the two different kinds of metal coins, into the alligator clips and power the battery which in turn powers the tiny light bulb. You can choose to power a larger bulb using more lemons, coins, and clips. When you squeeze the lemon and more juice is released, more acidity is releases, and therefore more electricity! You have created a small electrical circuit using an unlikely energy source!
