Search for Science Fair Projects

1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Electricity Science Fair Project

Battery Life at Extreme Temperatures

Hard
Battery Life at Extreme Temperatures | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
How does extreme cold affect how long a battery lasts? You test three brands of AA batteries at three temperatures: - Room temperature (24 degrees C) - Freezing (0 degrees C, using ice cubes) - Extreme cold (-78 degrees C, using dry ice) Each battery powers a small table fan. You time how long the fan runs before the battery dies. Comparing the results across temperatures and brands reveals which batteries hold up best in harsh conditions.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that batteries will supply power for a shorter length of time when temperatures fall.

Method & Materials

You will test the performance of batteries at different temperatures, -78°C, 0°C, and 24°C. You will place the battery in a plastic bag with jumper wires, and place it in a beaker with either dry ice or ice cubes. Then, you will connect the fan to the wires and time how long it takes for the battery to run out of power.
You will need 3 Energizer, 3 Duracell, and 3 Eveready AA size batteries, 6 plastic bags, 6 rubber bands, a battery holder, 2 jumper wires with crocodile clips, a AA battery-operated table fan, 2 beakers, 1 kg of dry ice, 1 kg of ice cubes, safety goggles, and a clock.

MEL Physics — monthly physics experiment kits delivered to your door. (Affiliate link)

See whats included

Results

The results showed that the maximum operation time of the batteries became shorter as the temperature fell. At a temperature of -78°C, the batteries only lasted a few minutes.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it explores how temperature affects the life of a battery, which is an important factor to consider when using batteries in different environments.

Also Consider

Consider repeating the experiment at higher temperatures of 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C. Also, try using rechargeable batteries, such as Nickel Metal Hydride batteries.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
Share this Science Project:

Related Science Fair Project Ideas

The Biefeld-Brown Lifter
Build a frame from skewers, aluminum foil, and copper wire, then watch it levitate under 40 kilovolts of direct current.
Hard
Friction Losses in DC Motors by Size
Turn off four different DC motors and time how long each one spins to find out which loses the most energy to friction.
Hard
Franklin's Bells from Soda Cans
Hang a pull-tab between two soda cans, connect one to static charge, and watch the tab swing back and forth like a bell clapper.
Hard
Share this Science Project: