Spud-Power
Mark Rad
AP Physics 1
Mr. L. Küffer
Electricity In Potatoes?
Not exactly…
Electrochemical cell
Movement of electrons spontaneously
Adding more potatoes in series gives a higher voltage
Adding more potatoes in parallel gives a higher current
Boiled vs Fresh
▪ Why does a potato “give off more” electricity when cooked/boiled?
It all has to deal with resistance. There is not MORE movement of ions,
but less of a resistance in the path. The heavy starches are broken down
and movement becomes easier. Almost like chewing.
Fresh potatoes generally have more of an internal resistance than
cooked potatoes.
Series
Voltages add
Current stays the same
Parallel
Voltages stay the same
Current adds
Series+Parallel
You need double the batteries
Both current and voltage increase
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Law #1
The sum of currents entering a junction
is equal to the sum of currents leaving
a junction.
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Law #2
The sum of electromotive force in a
closed circuit is directly equal to the sum
of the potential drops (voltage) of the
circuit.
Ohm
▪ Ohm’s Law
The current flow through a conductor is directly proportional with the
potential difference of the conductor.
Getting the LED to light