The Project:
For this project, our goal was to explore the different types of energy and energy changes by constructing a device that converts one form of energy to another. My group had multiple different ideas that we were interested in looking into, but in the end, we found that only one of them would be practical. The device we constructed was a coin battery that used different types of metals, along with salt and vinegar soaked paper towels.
Driving Question: How can we convert Chemical Energy into another form of useful energy and how can we measure the amount of energy transferred between their systems?
This was the focus of the project and some of the key concepts we hoped to cover in our research.
Driving Question: How can we convert Chemical Energy into another form of useful energy and how can we measure the amount of energy transferred between their systems?
This was the focus of the project and some of the key concepts we hoped to cover in our research.
Planning:
To plan for the project, we filled out a brainstorming document that helped us to find which ideas would be the most interesting and practical for a project. Many of my initial ideas proved to be very difficult to carry out so my group adapted to settle on a coin battery that we would be able to construct with items around our houses.
Our Project Write-Up:
Pictures:
Content:
Energy: Energy can be found in many different forms. Energy can be nuclear, electrical, mechanical, electromagnetic, elastic, sound, light, thermal, and much more. A key property of energy is stated in the first law of thermodynamics. This law is important because it allows us to see that batteries do not create energy, they simply change one form of energy to another.
First Law of Thermodynamics: This law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it simply changes its form. The total amount of energy within a system always remains constant. For example, in a battery chemical energy from a chemical reaction is converted into electrical energy that can be used to power something like an LED.
Battery: A battery is normally used as a power source. A battery converts chemical energy to electrical energy in order to produce this power. In order for a battery to work, it must have two types of metal which serve as the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte. In our batteries, the pennies served as the anode (the positive side of the battery), and the nickels, dimes, and foil pieces were the cathodes (negatively charged side of the battery). The paper towel soaked in salt and vinegar served as the electrolyte. When all of these components are put together, they create a battery that is capable of producing electricity that can be used.
Oxidization Reaction:
Electrons can be generated through oxidation reactions when these electrons get transferred from one material to another. Within our batteries, the salt and vinegar solution reacted with the metal coins which in turn underwent an oxidation reaction. Oxidation reduction reactions occur between a metal, oxygen, and something like vinegar. During these reactions, the metal gains a positive charge by releasing electrons. Because these metals have then lost their electrons, they have been oxidized. This process of oxidation was seen in our batteries because they began to turn a bluish color as the coins reacted with the salt and vinegar. During the oxidation reaction, these electrons flow from one electrode to the other through the electrolyte which was the paper towel. This flow of electrons is what creates electricity. When we used wires to attach each end of an LED to each end of the battery, we were able to make a complete circuit. This complete circuit formed a loot that the electrons could flow through powering the LED.
Real World Batteries: Unlike the batteries we made, real batteries are capable of producing much larger amount of electricity that can actually power something. This is due to the fact that a real battery has chemicals inside it that are specifically made to create effective batteries while salt and vinegar are just common households products that can be used to learn about batteries in a simple manner.
First Law of Thermodynamics: This law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it simply changes its form. The total amount of energy within a system always remains constant. For example, in a battery chemical energy from a chemical reaction is converted into electrical energy that can be used to power something like an LED.
Battery: A battery is normally used as a power source. A battery converts chemical energy to electrical energy in order to produce this power. In order for a battery to work, it must have two types of metal which serve as the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte. In our batteries, the pennies served as the anode (the positive side of the battery), and the nickels, dimes, and foil pieces were the cathodes (negatively charged side of the battery). The paper towel soaked in salt and vinegar served as the electrolyte. When all of these components are put together, they create a battery that is capable of producing electricity that can be used.
Oxidization Reaction:
Electrons can be generated through oxidation reactions when these electrons get transferred from one material to another. Within our batteries, the salt and vinegar solution reacted with the metal coins which in turn underwent an oxidation reaction. Oxidation reduction reactions occur between a metal, oxygen, and something like vinegar. During these reactions, the metal gains a positive charge by releasing electrons. Because these metals have then lost their electrons, they have been oxidized. This process of oxidation was seen in our batteries because they began to turn a bluish color as the coins reacted with the salt and vinegar. During the oxidation reaction, these electrons flow from one electrode to the other through the electrolyte which was the paper towel. This flow of electrons is what creates electricity. When we used wires to attach each end of an LED to each end of the battery, we were able to make a complete circuit. This complete circuit formed a loot that the electrons could flow through powering the LED.
Real World Batteries: Unlike the batteries we made, real batteries are capable of producing much larger amount of electricity that can actually power something. This is due to the fact that a real battery has chemicals inside it that are specifically made to create effective batteries while salt and vinegar are just common households products that can be used to learn about batteries in a simple manner.
Reflection:
This project was interesting in many ways. I had to find a way to work in a group while also only meeting virtually, along with working on the project while taking AP tests. What went well was that we were able to find enough time to finish our project but the part that went poorly was actually finding the time to work on it.
I learned that communication was very important especially because we could not meet in person. All work had to be completed over the internet so we all had to maintain communication through online messages and meetings. We also had to use good communication to receive an extension on our project. AP testing made our schedules very busy so we had to balance our work loads in order to be successful on the project. I also learned that there are many different ways to complete projects. This was one of my first times doing a virtual project so it was great way to learn a lot of new working styles. Combining communication and collaboration virtually was a new experience to work with on this project.
I could have improved by working on the project sooner. I ended up having to do most of the work over the last week so I could have improved the workload by spreading it out more. I could also improve the project or look into some future ideas by expanding the items the battery could power or researching ways that the coin batteries could be improved. A peak from the project was when I was able to find a new way to construct my battery. I had to go through a few designs before I was able to find one that would work properly. Using some critical thinking I was able to find a design that used thicker parts so that none of the battery layers overlapped. A pit from the project was when I realized that I would not be able to power anything very large with the battery. Originally, I planned to power some larger objects and devices with the battery but I quickly learned that the coin battery would not be able to power anything larger than a small LED.
I learned that communication was very important especially because we could not meet in person. All work had to be completed over the internet so we all had to maintain communication through online messages and meetings. We also had to use good communication to receive an extension on our project. AP testing made our schedules very busy so we had to balance our work loads in order to be successful on the project. I also learned that there are many different ways to complete projects. This was one of my first times doing a virtual project so it was great way to learn a lot of new working styles. Combining communication and collaboration virtually was a new experience to work with on this project.
I could have improved by working on the project sooner. I ended up having to do most of the work over the last week so I could have improved the workload by spreading it out more. I could also improve the project or look into some future ideas by expanding the items the battery could power or researching ways that the coin batteries could be improved. A peak from the project was when I was able to find a new way to construct my battery. I had to go through a few designs before I was able to find one that would work properly. Using some critical thinking I was able to find a design that used thicker parts so that none of the battery layers overlapped. A pit from the project was when I realized that I would not be able to power anything very large with the battery. Originally, I planned to power some larger objects and devices with the battery but I quickly learned that the coin battery would not be able to power anything larger than a small LED.