How to Make a Pumpkin Clock
Have you ever tried a potato clock? Did you know a potato could power a clock? Did you know a potato clock can actually work with a variety of fruits and vegetables? We used potato clock for this awesome pumpkin clock STEM project just in time for fall.
Supplies
- 2 small pumpkins
- Potato clock
- Knife (used to make holes in the pumpkins for the clock-adult use)
Instructions
Follow instructions given with your potato clock to set it up correctly, and insert into the pumpkins.
Use the knife to make two small inserts in each pumpkin – you will use the copper and zinc “sticks” to insert inside the pumpkin.
The potato clock should turn on and work once inserted! Follow potato clock instructions to change the time.
Experiment with other fruits and vegetables as you wish to see if you have the same result.
Using a potato clock, you just made a battery out of your pumpkins. Small particles inside the pumpkin help convert the chemical energy inside the strips of metal into electrical energy. An electrical current moves between the two strips. The pumpkin allows the current to flow. An electrical current is also flowing through the wires to power the clock. While it may not look like much on the outside, it’s really cool to know how much is really going on inside!
So if you enjoyed the pumpkin clock activity, you’ll like these others too:
Fall Science Grow Pumpkin Shaped Crystals
Pumpkin Bubble Volcano Science
You can also find projects like this on our Pinterest page!
Photographs and content by: Heather Kucenski