• Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Exhibits
    • Artworks on View
    • Getting Here
    • Event Rentals
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
    • Attend a fundraiser
    • Party at the Piers
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Host your event
    • Volunteer
  • Store
  • Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Calendar
      • Today
      • This Week
      • After Dark Thursday Nights
      • Arts
      • Conferences
      • Cinema Arts
      • Free and Community Events
      • Fundraising Events
      • Kids + Families
      • Live Webcasts
      • Members
      • Ongoing + Series
      • Special Hours and Open Mondays
      • Private Event Closures
    • Hours
    • Getting Here
    • Museum Map
    • Reduced Rates & Community Day
    • Accessibility
    • Tips for Visiting with Kids
    • How to Exploratorium
    • Exhibits
    • Tactile Dome
    • Artworks on View
    • Cinema Arts
    • Kanbar Forum
    • Black Box
    • Museum Galleries
      • Bernard and Barbro Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomena
        • Exhibition: Science of Sharing
          • Educator Activities
        • Tactile Dome
          • 1971 Press Release
        • Black Box
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 2: Tinkering
        • Curator Statement
      • Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing and Listening
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 4: Living Systems
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits
        • Curator Statement
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes
        • Wired Pier Environmental Field Station
        • Curator Statement
      • PlayLists
        • All PlayLists
        • A Different Light
        • “We” or “Just Me”?
        • See Yourself in Cells
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 2
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 3
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 4
        • Museum Map
    • Restaurant & Café
    • School Field Trips
      • Getting Here
        • Bus Routes for Field Trips and Other Groups
      • Prices and Discounts
      • Planning Guide
      • Reservations
        • Field Trip Request Form
      • Resources
    • Groups / Tour Operators
      • Group Visit Request Form
    • Event Rentals
      • COVID-Compliant Options
      • Full Facility & Gallery Bundles
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery & Terrace
      • East Gallery
      • Bechtel Central Gallery
      • Osher West Gallery
      • Kanbar Forum

      • Weddings
      • Proms and School Events
      • Daytime Meetings & Events
      • Happy Hour on the Water

      • Rentals FAQ
      • Event Planning Resources
      • Rental Request Form
      • Download Brochure (pdf)
    • Exploratorium Store
    • Contact Us
    • Español
    • 繁體中文
    • 简体中文
    • 한국어
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • Português
    • 日本語
  • Education
    • Black Teachers and Students Matter
    • Professional Development Programs
      • Teacher Institute
        • About the Teacher Institute
        • Summer Institute for Teachers
        • Teacher Induction Program
        • Leadership Program
        • Teacher Institute Research
        • CA NGSS STEM Conferences
          • NGSS STEM Conference 2020
        • Science Snacks
          • Browse by Subject
          • Special Collections
          • Science Snacks A-Z
          • NGSS Planning Tools
          • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Digital Teaching Boxes
        • Meet the Teacher Institute Staff
        • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Institute for Inquiry
        • What Is Inquiry?
        • Inquiry-based Science and English Language Development
          • Educators Guide
            • Conceptual Overview
              • Science Talk
              • Science Writing
            • Classroom Video Gallery
              • Magnet Investigation
              • Snail Investigation
            • Teacher Professional Development
            • Project Studies
            • Acknowledgments
          • Conference: Exploring Science and English Language Development
            • Interviews with Participants
            • Plenary Sessions
            • Synthesis, Documentation, and Resources
        • Workshops
          • Participant Portal
          • Fundamentals of Inquiry
            • Summary Schedule
          • BaySci Science Champions Academy
          • Facilitators Guides
          • Commissioned Workshops
        • Resource Library
        • Meet the IFI Staff
      • Resources for California Educators
      • K-12 Science Leader Network
      • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Field Trip Explainer Program
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
      • Learning Toolbox
      • Science Snacks
      • Digital Teaching Boxes
      • Science Activities
      • Tinkering Projects
      • Recursos gratuitos para aprender ciencias
      • Videos
      • Exhibits
      • Publications
      • Apps
      • Educator Newsletter
      • Exploratorium Websites
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Advancing Ideas about Learning
      • Visitor Research and Evaluation
        • What we do
        • Reports & Publications
        • Projects
        • Who we are
      • Center for Informal Learning in Schools
    • Community Programs
      • High School Explainer Program
      • Xtech
      • Community Educational Engagement
      • California Tinkering Afterschool Network
        • About
        • Partners
        • Resources
        • News & Updates
        • Further Reading
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
      • Arts
      • Astronomy & Space Sciences
        • Planetary Science
        • Space Exploration
      • Biology
        • Anatomy & Physiology
        • Ecology
        • Evolution
        • Genetics
        • Molecular & Cellular Biology
        • Neuroscience
      • Chemistry
        • Combining Matter
        • Food & Cooking
        • Materials & Matter
        • States of Matter
      • Data
        • Data Collection & Analysis
        • Modeling & Simulations
        • Visualization
      • Earth Science
        • Atmosphere
        • Geology
        • Oceans & Water
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Design & Tinkering
        • Real-World Problems & Solutions
      • Environmental Science
        • Global Systems & Cycles
        • Human Impacts
      • History
      • Mathematics
      • Nature of Science
        • Measurement
        • Science as a Process
        • Size & Scale
        • Time
      • Perception
        • Light, Color & Seeing
        • Listening & Hearing
        • Optical Illusions
        • Scent, Smell & Taste
        • Tactile & Touch
      • Physics
        • Electricity & Magnetism
        • Energy
        • Heat & Temperature
        • Light
        • Mechanics
        • Quantum
        • Sound
        • Waves
      • Social Science
        • Culture
        • Language
        • Psychology
        • Sociology
    • Browse by Content Type
      • Activities
      • Blogs
      • Exhibits
      • Video
      • Websites
      • Apps
        • Total Solar Eclipse
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Impact Report
    • Fact Sheet
    • Awards
    • Our History
      • 50 Years 1969–2019

    • Senior Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Trustees Alumni
    • Staff Scientists
    • Staff Artists

    • Arts at the Exploratorium
      • Artworks on View
      • Artist-in-Residence Program
      • Cinema Arts
        • History and Collection
        • Cinema Artists-in-Residence
        • Resources and Collaborating Organizations
        • Kanbar Forum
      • Center for Art & Inquiry
        • Begin Here
          • Lessons
            • Bob Miller/Light Walk
            • Ruth Asawa/Milk Carton Sculpture
          • Workshops
      • Resonance
        • About the Series
        • See & Hear
        • Past Seasons
      • Over the Water
      • Black Box
      • Upcoming Events
      • Temporary Exhibitions
      • Arts Program Staff
      • Arts Committee and Advisers
    • Teacher Institute
    • Institute for Inquiry
    • Online Engagement
    • Explainer Programs
    • Studio for Public Spaces
    • Exhibit Making
    • Partnerships
      • Building Global Connections
        • Global Collaborations
          • Projects
          • Approach
          • People
          • Impact
      • Partnering with Science Agencies
        • NASA
        • NOAA
      • Partnering with Educational Institutions
      • Osher Fellows

    • Job Opportunities
    • Become a Volunteer

    • Contact Info
    • Newsletter
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Blogs
    • Follow & Share
    • Press Office

    • FY20 Audit Report
    • 990 FY19 Tax Return
    • Use Policy
      • Privacy Policy
      • Intellectual Property Policy
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
      • Membership FAQ
      • Member Benefits
      • After Dark Membership
      • Member Events
      • May Is for Members
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
      • Corporate Membership
      • Luminary Partnerships
    • Attend a fundraiser
      • Wonder Funday
      • Science of Cocktails
      • Party at the Piers
        • Event Leadership and Host Committee
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Volunteer
      • Benefits
      • How to Apply
      • Application for Corporate Groups
      • Application for Internships
      • Application for Professional Societies
      • Application for School Groups & Clubs
      • Our Contract
      • Application for Individuals
      • Opportunities
  • Press Office
    • Press Releases
    • News Coverage
    • Events Calendar
    • Fact Sheet
    • Photographs
    • Press Video
    • Press Kits
    • Press Visits
    • Exploratorium Logos
    • Recent Awards
    • Praise for the Exploratorium
    • Join Our Press List
  • Store
 

Learn with us online while the Exploratorium is temporarily closed. You can help us reopen—donate today.

Exploratorium
Exploratorium
  • Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Exhibits
    • Artworks on View
    • Getting Here
    • Event Rentals
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
    • Attend a fundraiser
    • Party at the Piers
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Host your event
    • Volunteer
  • Store
Science Snacks
Science activity that demonstrates charge in a battery

Hand Battery

Your skin and two different metals create a battery.

When you place your hands on metal plates, you and the plates form a battery.

COVID-19 Learning Note: The current generated by Hand Battery is directly related to the contact surface area between your hands and the plates. You can see how much this changes by pressing down lightly versus pressing hard. It might not seem like the amount of contact area changes very much, but a firm handshake can transfer twice the number of microbes as a gentle one. The same phenomenon applies when you firmly grip door handles or other surfaces, so make sure you wash your hands with soap and water after grabbing something that might not be clean!


Grade Bands: 
3-5
6-8
9-12
Subject: 
Biology
Anatomy & Physiology
Chemistry
Materials & Matter
Combining Matter
Physics
Electricity & Magnetism
Energy
Keywords: 
video
battery
exhibit-based
covid-19
NGSS and EP&Cs: 
PS
PS1
PS2
PS3
CCCs
Cause and Effect
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Energy And Matter

  • Facebook logo
  • Reddit logo
  • Twitter logo


Video Demonstration


Tools and Materials

  • An aluminum plate (or aluminum foil) and a copper plate, each about the size of your hand
  • Flat wood surface or nonmetallic surface
  • Two wires with alligator clips at both ends
  • A multimeter (digital or analog—inexpensive models are available online)
  • Optional: other metal plates

Assembly

  1. Place both metal plates on a piece of wood or other nonmetallic surface.
  2. Using the clip leads, connect one plate to one of the multimeter’s test probes and connect the other plate to the other probe. At this point it doesn’t matter which plate attaches to which probe.
  3. Set the multimeter to measure current in milliamps.

To Do and Notice

Place one hand on each plate. You should notice a reading on the meter. If the meter shows a negative current, reverse your connections, switching the probe connected to the copper plate with the one connected to the aluminum and vice versa. If the meter shows no current, check the connections and the wiring. If that doesn’t produce current, try cleaning the plates with steel wool to remove oxidation.

Try pressing harder on the plates. Get your hands wet and try again.

Switch the multimeter to measure voltage, and repeat the above experiments.

Have one person put a hand on the copper plate and another person put a hand on the aluminum plate, and then have them join their free hands.


What’s Going On?

Most batteries use two different materials and an electrolyte solution to create an imbalance of charge and thus a voltage. When the terminals of the battery are connected with a wire, this voltage produces a current.

In this Snack, the thin film of sweat on your hands acts like an electrolyte solution and reacts with the copper and aluminum plates. When you touch the copper plate, a reaction happens that uses electrons. When you touch the aluminum plate, a reaction happens that releases electrons.

This difference in charge between the two plates creates a flow of electrical charge, or electrical current. Because electrons can move freely through metals, the excess electrons on the aluminum plate flow through the meter on their way to the copper plate. In addition, negative electrons move through your body from the hand touching the copper to the hand touching the aluminum. As long as the reactions continue, the charges will continue to flow and the meter will show a small current.

Your body resists the flow of current. Most of this resistance is in your skin. By wetting your skin you can decrease your resistance and increase the current through the meter. Since two people holding hands have more resistance than one person, the flow of current should be less. If you like, you can use the multimeter to measure resistance directly in these situations.


Going Further

You can use other pairs of different metals in a circuit to produce a current. The success you have using various metals will depend on a metal’s electrode potential, that is, its ability to gain or lose charges. Try various metals to see which produces the highest current reading. An electromotive series table shows the electrode potentials of metals and allows you to predict which metals will work well in making a hand battery.

You can sometimes get a small current even between two plates made of the same metal. Each plate has a slightly different coating of oxides, salts, and oils on its surface. These coatings create slight differences in the surfaces of the metals, and these differences can produce an electrical current.

The slightly painful sensation of a fork tine touching a metal filling, the process of plating metals, sacrificial anodes used to preserve ship hulls and iron bridges, potato clocks, and dielectric unions to prevent deterioration of copper and iron plumbing are all everyday examples of metals transferring charges.



Related Snacks

Science activity that demonstrates the chemistry of batteries
Aluminum-Air Battery

Construct a simple battery that can power a light.

Science activity that demonstrates the chemistry of a battery
Penny Battery

Light an LED with five cents.

Science activity that demonstrates conductivity of solutions
Conductivity Meter

Make a conductivity meter and let your electrolytes shine.


Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Attribution: Exploratorium Teacher Institute

  • Education
    • Teacher Institute
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
      • Science Snacks
        • Browse by Subject
        • Special Collections
        • Science Snacks A-Z
        • NGSS Planning Tools
        • Frequently Asked Questions

Connect with us!

  •   Sign up for our educator newsletter
  •   Follow #ExploEDU
  •   Teacher Institute YouTube
  •   Teacher Institute Facebook
  •  teacherinstitute @exploratorium.edu
Exploratorium
Visit
Join
Give

Pier 15
(Embarcadero at Green Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 528-4444

Contact Us

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Buy Tickets
  • Hours
  • Getting Here
  • Calendar
  • Tactile Dome
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Become a Member
  • Donate
  • Event Rentals
  • Jobs
  • Volunteer
  • Press Office

Get at-home activities and learning tools delivered straight to your inbox

© 2020 Exploratorium | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights |