What do you need to make a potato clock?

- 2 potatoes

- 2 zinc-plated nails or screws

- 2 copper-plated nails or screws

- Wire with alligator clips on each end

- Multimeter

- Clock

Instructions:

1. Wash the potatoes and dry them thoroughly.

2. Push one zinc-plated nail and one copper-plated nail into each potato, about 2.5 cm apart.

3. Connect the alligator clips to the nails, making sure that the zinc-plated nail is connected to the positive terminal of the multimeter and the copper-plated nail is connected to the negative terminal.

4. Turn on the multimeter and set it to measure voltage.

5. Observe the voltage reading on the multimeter. It should be around 1 volt.

6. Move the alligator clips closer together or farther apart until you get the highest voltage reading.

7. Connect the alligator clips to the clock. The clock should start to run!

Explanation:

The potato clock works by creating a galvanic cell. When the zinc-plated nail and the copper-plated nail are placed in the potato, they create an electrochemical reaction. This reaction generates a small amount of electricity, which is measured by the multimeter. The electricity then powers the clock.

The potato clock is a simple and fun way to learn about electrochemistry. It is also a great way to demonstrate how renewable energy can be used to power devices.