ABSTRACT

Potato can act as a battery when a zinc plate and copper plate are placed into the potato.
Therefore, an investigation on determining the effect of adding of potatoes and the effect of the
increasing the separation distance between the two plates in both series and parallel on the
potential difference and current is plotted. We used miiliammeter and voltage to measure the
current and voltage given out by the potatoes respectively. We added the number of potatoes
in series and parallel, then measure the current and voltage. Besides, we increase the distance
of separation between the two plates, the current and voltage measure again. Through this
experiment, we found that ammeter reading and voltmeter reading increase when the number
of potatoes is increased in series while the voltage remains constant but current increases when
the potatoes are connected in parallel. As for the increasing the potatoes in series, the current
and voltage also decease. On the other hand, in parallel, the voltmeter reading remains constant
whereas the ammeter reading decreases.

INTRODUCTION
In our project, the problem statement are what is the effect of the adding of potatoes in
series and parallel on the potential difference and current? And what is effect of the increasing
the separation distance between the two plates on the potential difference and current of the
circuit?
The objective of doing this project is to investigate the effect of adding of potatoes in
series and parallel on the potential difference and current of the circuit. Besides, we also want
to investigate the effect of the increasing the separation distance between the two plates on the
potential difference and current of the circuit.
Hypothesis:
Both potential and current will increase when the potatoes is kept added in series.
However, in parallel, the voltmeter reading will remain constant but the ammeter reading will
increase. When the potatoes are connected in series and the distance between the two plates is
increasing, both current and potential difference of the circuit will decrease. On the other hand,
when the potatoes are connected in parallel and the distance between the two plates are
increasing, the voltmeter reading will remain constant whereas the ammeter reading will
decrease.
Theory:
The copper (Cu) atoms attract electrons more than the zinc (Zn) atoms. If a strip of
copper and a strip of zinc in contact with each other, many electrons pass from the zinc to the
copper. As the concentrate on the copper, the electrons repel each other. When the force of
repulsion between electrons and the force of attraction of electrons to the copper become
equalized, the flow of electrons stops. Unfortunately there is no way to take advantage of this
behavior to produce electricity because the flow of charges stops almost immediately.
On the other hand, if you bathe the two strips in conductive solution (an acid, base, salt
solution, fruits and vegetables contain juice rich in ion)and connect them externally with a wire,
the reactions between the electrodes and the solution continually furnish the circuit with
charges. In this way, the process that produces the electrical energy continues and become
useful.
Like any battery, a potato battery has a limited life span. The electrodes undergo
chemical reactions that block the flow of electricity. The electromotive force diminishes and the
battery stops working. Usually, what happens is the production of hydrogen at the copper
electrode and the zinc electrode. This is referred to as the electrodes being polarized. To achieve
a longer life and higher voltages and current flows, it is necessary to use electrolytes better
suited for the purpose. Commercial batteries, apart from their normal electrolytes, contain

chemicals with an affinity for hydrogen, which combine with hydrogen before it can polarize the
electrodes.

METHODOLOGY
In this experiment, the apparatus and material that we used are 12 potatoes, sand
papers, 6 copper plates, 6 zinc plates, 12 insulated wire with alligator clips, milliammeter,
voltage, penknife and metre rule.
First and foremost, the zinc plate and copper plate were carefully placed into a potato
using the penknife. The two plates were not allowed to be touching each other. Thus, the
distance between the zinc plates and copper plates were fixed at 1 cm. Then, one alligator clip
was connected to the end of the copper plate sticking out of the potato and another alligator
clips was connected to the end of the zinc plate sticking out of the potato. A milliameter was
connected to the circuit in series. The ammeter reading was recorded. Then the milliameter was
replaced by the voltmeter. The voltmeter reading was recorded. the circuit was set as shown in
the diagram below. The experiment was repeated by adding the potatoes in parallel circuit, all
the milliammeter reading and voltmeter were recorded. the circuit was set as shown in the
diagram below. A graph of open-circuit potential difference and short circuit current against the
number of potatoes in series was plotted respectively.
After that, all the wires were removed from all the potatoes. Now, only two potatoes
were connected in series with 1 cm distance between the two plates on each potato. Then, the
distance between the zinc plate and copper was increased from 1 cm to 6 cm. all the
milliammeter reading and voltmeter reading were recorded. this experiment was repeated by
connecting the two potatoes in parallel, the milliammeter and voltmeter reading were recorded.
all the data were tabulated. A graph of the potential difference and current against the distance
of separation between the two plates when the potatoes were connected in series and parallel
respectively. Whole experiment is repeated three times in order to get more accurate results.

OBSERVATION
In open circuit, the current and voltage that produced by only one potato are 0.26mA and 0.70V
respectively.
In series
Number of
Potato
2
3
4
5
6

Distance of
Separation
2
3
4
5
6

1
0.27
0.28
0.29
0.29
0.30

Multimeter (mA)
2
3
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.31
0.30
0.32
0.31

1
0.33
0.30
0.28
0.28
0.26

Multimeter (mA)
2
3
0.33
0.33
0.31
0.29
0.30
0.29
0.28
0.28
0.26
0.26

1
0.44
0.74
1.10
1.43
1.72

Multimeter (mA)
2
3
0.44
0.44
0.73
0.75
1.10
1.10
1.44
1.45
1.72
1.72

1
0.82
0.65
0.51
0.40
0.33

Multimeter (mA)
2
3
0.82
0.82
0.63
0.64
0.50
0.52
0.40
0.40
0.34
0.35

Voltmeter (V)
Average
0.27
0.28
0.29
0.30
0.31

0.80
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20

Voltmeter (V)
Average
0.33
0.31
0.29
0.28
0.26

0.90
0.80
0.75
0.70
0.65

Parallel
Number of
Potato
2
3
4
5
6

Distance of
Separation
2
3
4
5
6

Voltmeter (V)
Average
0.44
0.74
1.10
1.44
1.72

0.70
0.70
0.70
0.70
0.70

Voltmeter (V)
Average
0.82
0.64
0.51
0.40
0.34

0.70
0.70
0.70
0.70
0.70

DISSCUSSION
Precaution

All connection of wire and other device must be good contact.

Carry out the experiment reasonably fast to prevent wires from heating up.

Error

Difficulty to keep the current constant as we have fluctuating reading on the multimeter.
Inaccurate reading of voltmeter by the multimeter.
The oxide on the zinc plate and copper plate may cause the current circuit passes
through the plate and the current is not complete.

Improvement

Repeat the experiment for a several times to reduce random error and increase the
accuracy of the results.
Look perpendicularly to the reading of voltmeter to prevent parallax error.
Clean all the oxides on the zinc plate and copper plate using superconductor.
Switch off the multimeter after ()
() and discharge the current constant before connecting or disconnecting a multimeter.

DISSCUSSION/CONCLUSION
According to our result, when the number of potato is increased in series, the ammeter
reading increase from 0.27mA to 0.31mA while voltmeter reading increase from 0.80V to 1.20V.
Potatoes act as batteries, so when the number of battery are increased in series, the effective
e.m.f of the circuit will also increase, V=IR. Since V is directly proportional to I, the current of the
circuit will also increase when the number of potato is increased.
When two potatoes are connected in series, the distance of separation between the zinc
plate and copper plate is increased, both ammeters reading and voltmeters reading decrease
from 0.33mA to 0.26mA and from 0.90V to 0.65V. When the distance of separation is increased
from 1cm to 6cm, the interval resistance of the potato will also increase. Thus, the interval
resistance, current and the external voltage all will increase.
On the other hand, when the number of potatoes is increased in parallel, the voltmeter
reading remains at 0.70V while the ammeter reading increases from 0.44mA to 1.72mA.
According to the theory, the voltage that across all the parallel circuit will be the same, so the
voltmeter reading remains at 0.70V even though the number of potato is increased .since the
potatoes are connected in parallel, the effective internal resistance will decrease,
. Thus, referring to E=V+IR, when the effective internal resistance decreases, the current
of the circuit increases.
When two potatoes are connected in parallel, the distance of separation between the
zinc plate and copper plate is increased, the voltmeter reading remains constant at 0.7V while
the ammeter reading increase from 0.82mA to 0.34mA. When the distance of separation
increased. According to E=V+IR, since the total effective resistance increases, the current of the
circuit increases.
In conclusion, our hypothesis is accepted.