How to Make a Battery Clock for a Science Project

If you are teaching elementary school children about the conductivity of metals, circuits and basic electronics, you can make the lessons more exciting by showing your students how to make a battery out of citrus fruit, such as lemons. This lemon battery can be used to power a small electronic device, such as a digital clock. Everything needed to create a lemon-powered clock can be purchased at a grocery store or supermarket.

Things You'll Need

  • Two lemons
  • Knife
  • Three copper wires
  • Two copper pennies
  • Two paper clips
  • Digital clock
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap the end of a first 8-inch copper wire around a penny.

    • 2

      Wrap the end of a second 8-inch copper wire around a paper clip.

    • 3

      Wrap the end of a third 8-inch copper wire around a penny, then wrap the other end of the wire around a paper clip.

    • 4

      Mash two lemons in your hands to loosen the juice inside.

    • 5

      Cut two small holes into each lemon, placing the holes about an inch apart.

    • 6

      Place the penny end of the third wire into one of the holes of one of the lemons, and the paper clip end of the wire into one of the holes in the other lemon.

    • 7

      Insert the penny connected to the first wire into the second hole of one of the lemons, letting the wire hang loosely.

    • 8

      Insert the paper clip connected to the second wire into the second hole of the other lemon, letting the wire hang loosely.

    • 9

      Connect the loose wire ends to the wires of a digital clock. The juice of the lemons will complete the circuit, and will power the clock.

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