i think there must be some kind of electrolyte placed in between those pennies

Yes, Venkata is right, it's an electrolyte, it's salt water. Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaic_pile Without water, no reaction.

How many pad thingy do I need? All I have is two

The more layers you add, the better tension and current you'll get. With only 2, you have a very weak pile.

I tried it and it didn't work, is there a special way to do it??

If you look there's a whole playlist telling you how.

Main content

Exploratorium

Course: Exploratorium > Unit 3

Lesson 2: Penny Battery

Penny battery introduction

Name: Penny battery introduction
Uploaded: 2014-01-21T02:24:15Z
Description: You can make a simple battery, powerful enough to light an LED, with the change in your pockets!

Google Classroom

You can make a simple battery, powerful enough to light an LED, with the change in your pockets! Created by Exploratorium.

Want to join the conversation?

Sort by:

E
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to E's post “What is the white stuff p...”
What is the white stuff placed between the pennies?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on E's post “What is the white stuff p...”
(14 votes)
Answer
Venkata Sai Ram
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Venkata Sai Ram's post “i think there must be som...”
i think there must be some kind of electrolyte placed in between those pennies
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(12 votes)
Answer
- PERCE-NEIGE
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to PERCE-NEIGE's post “Yes, Venkata is right, it...”
  Yes, Venkata is right, it's an electrolyte, it's salt water. Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaic_pile
  Without water, no reaction.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (9 votes)
Anna
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Anna's post “I know that the zinc and ...”
I know that the zinc and copper provide some of the electricity for a Zn Cu battery. Here you also have matboard soaked in aqueous sodium chloride.

Would the Cl- let go of its electrons to Na+ producing an Na Cl battery inside a Zn Cu battery?

And couldn't you charge 1 side of the battery with static electricity so that it becomes more negative and then produce DC(direct current) electricity by spreading the positive charge on the other side like a wave if you had just copper and zinc?

Also, Is it possible to have AC(alternating current) produced by a battery since both Zn and Cu can form anions?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Anna's post “I know that the zinc and ...”
(15 votes)
Answer
Marc james
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Marc james's post “Can the energy in the coi...”
Can the energy in the coins be depleted like a battery, and how long will it take?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(10 votes)
Answer
Keng Chaiyong
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Keng Chaiyong's post “How many pad thingy do I ...”
How many pad thingy do I need? All I have is two
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(6 votes)
Answer
- PERCE-NEIGE
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to PERCE-NEIGE's post “The more layers you add, ...”
  The more layers you add, the better tension and current you'll get. With only 2, you have a very weak pile.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (8 votes)
Talha Naveed
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Talha Naveed's post “Can you use the same tech...”
Can you use the same technique to charge a battery??
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(5 votes)
Answer
Lzaps
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Lzaps's post “So if you put the thing a...”
So if you put the thing around a penny, it glows?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(5 votes)
Answer
Talha Naveed
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Talha Naveed's post “I tried it and it didn't ...”
I tried it and it didn't work, is there a special way to do it??
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Talha Naveed's post “I tried it and it didn't ...”
(2 votes)
Answer
- Dylan James
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Dylan James's post “If you look there's a who...”
  If you look there's a whole playlist telling you how.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
TheK1ng
Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to TheK1ng's post “video not working? flashe...”
video not working? flashes "video is private" then switches to end of video, wont let me watch
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(1 vote)
Answer
Why Do You Care?
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Why Do You Care?'s post “What if you don't have an...”
What if you don't have any change in your pockets? 🕶👀🧠🤡
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(0 votes)
Answer

Video transcript

- [Voiceover] How can you light an LED with just the change that's in your pocket?