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Atoms
hold their outer electrons with varying strengths or
affinities. By connecting metals with differing affinities
with a conductive medium, the metal with less hold on
its electrons loses charge to the metal with a greater
hold. Depending on the metals used, different voltages
are generated. In Hand Battery, the salty dampness of
a visitors hands when in contact with copper and
aluminum plates creates an electrochemical reaction
which causes a small current. The small current is registered
on a meter. If the visitor places both hands on the
same kind of metal connected to either side of the meter,
no potential difference is created. The meter has its
zero in the center of the scale to allow
the visitor to change the polarity of the voltage generated
by changing to the other type of metal with each hand,
(i.e. copper with the left hand and aluminum with the
right hand, or aluminum with the left hand and copper
with the right hand).
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