The Voltaic Pile

Purchase: hilaroad.com/video/
The Voltaic Pile may have been the first successful multi-cell battery. This video presents the history of this important device and explains how they are constructed. If you attempt to construct your own voltaic pile make sure you have adult supervision, someone with knowledge of electrical systems and safety procedures. Search the Internet for "voltaic pile" for more information about these devices.

[@516molly]

This is amazing! I'm a physics teacher and I can't wait to try this with my students! Thank you!

[@Scrap5000]

Italians always rocking the house!!

[@Technoguy3]

My question is why is the zinc negative? On the periodic table of elements it is positive...?

[@liam552]

@abcd19263 The negative terminal is always the electrode at which oxidation is occurring. The metal that will undergo oxidation is that which is more reactive, in this case, that is zinc. So zinc will always be the negative in this cell because it is more reactive than copper.

[@whatisunknown]

I actually learned something new!

[@LadyTink]

excellent video!

[@DeBaardman]

Always interesting :P finaly an other vid of ScienceOnline :D

[@MaxZagar]

Thanks, I will do an experiment like this :)

[@cool70200]

nice video, thx I thought about doing similar and looking into making water batteries. It could be useful in a alternative "off grid" energy set. Link up enough voltaic piles to get 12volts to use to store into a deep cycle battery at nights or off weather days, to switch from solar panels, wind turbines, solar created steam power, or gravity fed water turbines. I just havent figured the cost of temporary galvanized zinc and copper plates vs cost or benefit in electricity gained.

[@blueshift314]

when multiple cells are stacked together, why does the charge not move directly from a penny to the zinc washer it is touching?

[@Incuby]

Good questions ;)

Haha, great reference!

[@georgeisin]

@3beavers coal does poduce electricity in a different form. By burning coal to heat water you generate steam which is used to turn a turbine generating AC electricity (alternating) which is more efficient to transport through powerlines.

[@ZblueheartX]

so why does the battary lose strength when used?

[@cleanycloth]

@robbylafont As Nurdrage say: "Our object here is to explore the science."

[@charlesheltyskeltymanson]

I'm guessing that the thing that makes these run is the salt water? idk, but how long do these last?

[@fermixx]

how much time does the current last? Guess its not eternal.. why should i buy an energizer and not put some pennies togheter?

[@charlesheltyskeltymanson]

that's a good answer.. "how long do these batteries last?" "until they die" LOL.

[@abcd19263]

why is the copper positive and the zinc negative and not the other way around

[@giantsinister]

voltage!!!

[@charlesheltyskeltymanson]

yes. it is possible to charge something. :P

[@clownstangler]

so electricity does come from thin air we think we have a lot to learn... but realy we have a lot to realise

[@cool70200]

too bad we cant get electrons to flow from plastic or paper eh

[@robbylafont]

@fermixx add up the cost of the pennies, the zinc washers, the aluminum foil....and you'll see that buying the battery already made is the sensible thing to do....and takes way less time...not to mention...most electrical devices are designed for the shape of a pre-made battery....