Do you struggle with what to do with those cute little pumpkins after Halloween? I guess you could make them into a pie but around my house we like to experiment with them. This fall why not see if a pumpkin can be used to power a robot?
What you need: The Green Science Potato Clock components found here, a DIY robot, a AA battery, and two cute little leftover pumpkins.
How to make the DIY robot:
- Wrap two small boxes in aluminum foil. (I used a jello box and an old Alka Seltzer box.)
- Wrap a cardboard tube with aluminum foil for the neck
- Glue boxes, tube, and pipe cleaners on to complete the body. Make a face with permanent marker.
- Hot glue or tape the clock components to the ‘belly’ of the robot
How you do it: First, test out a AA battery to see if it will power the robot clock.
How does a battery work?
There are three main parts to a battery: two electrodes (of different metals) and a chemical that separates the electrodes. When a device is connected to the battery a chemical reaction causes the electrons to flow between the two metal electrodes using the chemical as a bridge for the electrons.
(Image Source: Wikipedia found here)
So can a pumpkin be a battery?
Follow the instructions from the Green Science clock kit but instead of using a potato, try with two pumpkins instead as shown below.
What is the science?
The pumpkin acts as a bridge between the two electrodes just like the chemical between the battery electrodes. When the electrodes are inserted a pumpkin and connected to the clock it completes the circuit and causes the stored chemical energy in the pumpkin to be converted to electrical energy just like in a battery. Question: Why does it take two pumpkins to power the clock? Answer: You need two pumpkins to be strong enough to power it.
What do you do with your leftover pumpkins? What other fruits or veggies did you try to power the robot clock?
Hope you have a Happy Halloween!
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