Why isn't my vinegar battery lighting up a light bulb?

[es_dee]

I tried making a vinegar batter with aluminum and copper today and can't light up a small light bulb but I'm not sure why. Is it because the current is too small or it is because the vinegar has a high internal resistance? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

 

[Chi Meson]

It depends on the bulb. What is the intended voltage of the bulb? You want a bulb intended for a flashlight that uses 1 battery; that is a 1.5V bulb. Your vinnegar battery produces less than a full volt of potential difference, so even with a low volt bulb, it will glow very dimly.

Note: the indicated power (wattage) of the bulb will not help you since the actual power dissipated by the bulb depends on the voltage of the battery.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

There are a few reasons why your vinegar battery may not be lighting up a light bulb. One possibility is that the current produced by the battery is too small to power the light bulb. This could be due to a low concentration of vinegar or a mismatch in the size or type of electrodes used.

Another factor to consider is the internal resistance of the vinegar. Vinegar is not a highly conductive substance, so the internal resistance may be too high for the current to flow effectively through the battery and power the light bulb.

Additionally, the type of light bulb you are using may require a higher voltage or current than what your vinegar battery is capable of producing. It is important to ensure that the voltage and current requirements of the light bulb match the capabilities of your battery.

I would recommend experimenting with different concentrations of vinegar and types of electrodes to see if you can increase the current produced by the battery. You may also want to try different types of light bulbs to find one that is compatible with your vinegar battery.

Overall, constructing a functional battery can be a complex process and may require some trial and error. I suggest researching the principles of battery design and experimentation to better understand how to optimize your vinegar battery for powering a light bulb.