Human battery
Many living things are sources of miniature electric currents. These currents are amplified and used to control many biomechanical and bionic devices like modern robotic prosthetic limbs. This experiment will allow us to derive small electric currents from our human body using the different conductivity of metals.
You will need:
For the volcano shape:
- An aluminium plate (can be made from a flattened soft drinks can)
- A copper plate (you can buy some copper leaf or else use some coiled wire from an old motor or from some electricity wire wound up flat after having had its protective plastic insulation removed).
- 2 blocks of wood
- Good rubber soled shoes
- 4 short pieces of electrical wire (+some small alligator clips)
- An LED light
And last but not least ... a helping hand from an adult.
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Method
Mount the aluminium and copper plates (or equivalents) onto 2 blocks of wood
Attach 2 pieces of the wire to the aluminium and copper plates, either with the alligator clips or by winding round some accessible part of the plates.
Attach the loose ends of the wire to the or to the LED bulb positive and negative terminals
Now put your hands onto the different metal plates.
Current should flow from your hands into the wires and light the LED bulb.
If it does not work, wet your hands a little bit and then do it again.