In this experiment, students compare the endurance of four commercially available batteries by powering identical flashlights until each battery is depleted. The activity encourages careful measurement, data recording, and ranking based on observed run‑time.
Students investigate how wire gauge affects electrical conduction. Using a D‑cell battery, two strands of steel wool are twisted into a thin wire and a thicker bundle. By running each wire through a straw and connecting to a light bulb, they observe which configuration produces a brighter glow, illustrating the relationship between wire thickness and resistance.
Students construct a basic closed‑loop circuit with a battery holder and a light‑bulb holder. Alligator clips connect the positive and negative terminals to the bulb. When the loop is complete, the bulb lights; breaking one connection turns the bulb off, demonstrating the necessity of a continuous path for current flow.
Using a fresh potato, a straightened paper clip (copper) and a copper wire, students assemble a makeshift battery. Connecting the electrodes to a DC voltmeter reveals an output of approximately 0.5 V, providing a tangible example of how chemical reactions generate electrical energy.
