UC Clermont Breaks Guinness World Record with Potato Battery
UC Clermont College recently broke the Guinness Book of Records for the highest voltage potato battery. More than 100 students, faculty and staff along with students from Sandy Ruschell's Reading High School class, came out to help set a new potato battery world record of 1380 volts.
"Every year in my physics class, I set up a battery using copper wire, zinc nails, and a fruit. I usually use lemons and light up a small LED. However, lemons are a bit pricey, so I decided last year to try potatoes since they are cheaper. When I was investigating online what I can power with a potato battery, I found that there is a Guinness World Record for most voltage from a potato battery (1,224 Volts). I immediately talked to Cliff Larrabee, professor of chemistry, and told him about the record, and we both thought this was something we could break. I usually like to joke that I will never get into Guinness Book for being fast, strong or rich, but building a battery...I can do that!, said Associate Professor of Physics Nick Abel
With the generous donation from Kroger of 2000 potatoes, along with Professor Larrabee finding the best combination of metals to use (magnesium ribbon with silver-coated wire), we put it all together on the Monday, May 4, after final exams, said Abel.
For more information about the record breaking attempt, please email Nick Abel at abelnp@ucmail.uc.edu.
Additional Contacts
Tags
Related Stories
OTR mural centerpiece of 'big' celebration of UC alumni
April 26, 2024
New downtown artwork salutes 18 alumni award recipients who personify UC’s alumni success.
UC's record graduating class prepares for next chapter
April 22, 2024
UC will confer degrees to 7,521 degrees to 7,391 students. (Some students are earning multiple degrees.) Both represent new records at UC for a single graduating class dating back two centuries.
UC Clermont to host Rapid Application Events
April 16, 2024
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College will hold four free Rapid Application Events on campus during May and June.