Can you make a potato powered car and if so how?

Yes, you can make a potato-powered car. Here's a simple step-by-step guide:

Materials:

- 2 large potatoes

- 2 copper wires (about 20 cm each)

- 2 galvanized nails or small copper plates

- A small electric motor (can be from an old toy car or purchased separately)

- Battery terminals or alligator clips

- A pair of wheels and axles (you can use the wheels and axles from an old toy car or build your own using skewers and bottle caps)

- A wooden skewer or thin wooden rod

- A wooden base or chassis for the car (optional)

- A voltmeter (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the potatoes

Wash and scrub the potatoes to remove any dirt. You don't need to peel them.

Step 2: Insert the nails/plates into the potatoes

Push a copper wire about 1-2 cm into one of the potatoes. This will serve as the positive electrode. Repeat this step with the other potato and the second copper wire (this will be the negative electrode).

Step 3: Connect the wires to the motor

Connect the copper wire from the positive potato to one of the terminals of the small electric motor. Then, connect the copper wire from the negative potato to the other terminal of the motor.

Step 4: Test the circuit

Use a voltmeter (if available) to check if there is a voltage difference between the positive and negative potatoes. The voltmeter should read around 0.9 volts.

Step 5: Attach the wheels and axles

Attach the wheels and axles to the motor. You can glue the wheels directly onto the motor shafts, or use a skewer or other thin rod as an axle to attach the wheels.

Step 6: Build the car (optional)

If desired, you can create a simple chassis or base for your potato car using a wooden board or foam. Attach the motor and potatoes to the base.

Step 7: Test the car

Place your potato-powered car on a flat surface and turn on the motor. The car should start moving!

The potato acts as a simple galvanic cell, where the difference in metal reactivity between the copper and the zinc (in the galvanized nails) creates a small electric current. This current flows through the wires and powers the electric motor, which in turn drives the wheels of the car.

Note: The battery life of a potato car is limited, and the car may only run for a few minutes before the potatoes lose their power. To keep your car running longer, you can use multiple potatoes or replace them periodically.