why can a potato power a clock?

Question

i have to build a science fair project so i need to get a answer.plz help me

Answer 1

The potato contains phosphoric acid. This acid causes chemical reactions to occur at each of the electrodes (galvanized nail and copper penny). The reaction at the copper electrode strips electrons from the copper and attaches them to the Hydrogen ions (2H+) in the phosphoric acid. This depletes the electrons on the copper electrode which makes it "hungry" for more. The process creates Hydrogen gas.

The galvanized nail provides the Zinc needed for the other reaction. The phosphoric acid dissolves the Zinc in the nail and liberates electrons from the Zinc atoms. The liberated electrons stay on the electrode and the resulting Zinc ions (Zn++) migrate into the acidic juices of the potato. This results in an excess of electrons on the Zinc electrode. If a wire is connected between the Zinc nail and the copper penny, electrons will flow. This flow of electrons is the electrical current that makes the digital clock function.

Answer 2

Potato Powered Clock

Answer 3

Potato Clock

Answer 4

You'll have a better project if you leave out the potato and learn about batteries. If you immerse any two dissimilar metal electrodes or other conductors in a liquid that's also conductive you'll find that there's a small electric voltage measurable across the electrodes. So try making a single cell by immersing a zinc-coated nail (a roofing nail will do) and a stainless-steel fork into a glass of salt water. Then do the same with another glass of salt water. Connect things as follows: clock terminal 1----nail fork---other nail other fork---clock terminal 2. Check with an LED first, if it doesn't light, reverse the LED leads.

The potato is just a source of slightly-conductive water.

Answer 5

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copper wire goes to positive. also, even though the battery is small, check the voltage, makes sure it's below 2V (preferably want 1V or less). Probably will need 2 potatoes or more to power the clock (wired in series). The wiring should look like this: Clock Terminal---wire----nail----potato1-----c... terminal... repeat pattern and end with (+) clock terminal if you need more potatoes to get the necessary voltage. Also, the clock may have high current draw, which means that even though the potatoes should be giving the proper voltage, there isn't enough current to power the clock; this would would be easy to figure out if you had a multimeter (which i assume you don't), so you should play around to figure out how to get it to work. If multiple potatoes in series doesn't work, the clock doesn't take more than 2V and you're really determine, you can look into how to wire the potatoes in parallel, which would give you more current. Let me know how it works out.

Answer 6

a do not know .can a potato power a clock? if so why would a potato power a clock?? do you think if it can ...would people be driving around with a sack of potato's in there potato operated car? would electricity be powered by large amount of potato's??? how would a farmer keep up with the demand? explain to me this so called theory

Answer 7

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RE:
why can a potato power a clock?
i have to build a science fair project so i need to get a answer.plz help me

Answer 8

Yes! if the clock is potato powered.

Answer 9

I dunno.. but i hear its possible....if i were to hypothesise i'd say something to do with acid's in the 'tater