Day 3: Fuel Cell Technology
STEP 1: Now that you’ve built your own battery and seen how chemical reactions can generate electricity, we’re going to explore another powerful energy source: hydrogen fuel cells.
Like your battery, a hydrogen fuel cell uses chemical reactions to move electrons and create electricity. But instead of using metals like copper and zinc, fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen gas. When hydrogen atoms enter the cell, they’re split into protons and electrons. The electrons travel through a circuit—just like in your battery—to power a device. The only byproduct is water, making fuel cells a clean energy source!
Watch the video below to learn more about how hydrogen fuel cells work and how they compare to the battery you just built. As you watch, think about the similarities and differences:
STEP 2: Now carefully view the below video to learn more about how the elements hydrogen and oxygen can be leveraged in a “Fuel Cell” to produce electrical energy to power a vehicle. Click here and view an animation of a hydrogen fuel cell.
STEP 3: Now that you’ve learned how hydrogen fuel cells work and seen them used in cars and other real-life examples, it’s time to make your own. To get started, carefully watch the video below. It will show you how the fuel cell car works and how you’ll build it. Pay attention to how the hydrogen is made, how the electricity flows, and how that powers the car to move.
When done viewing the video, click here and use the materials provided to build your fuel cell car.
STEP 4: Experiment with your car’s motion and behavior. When comfortable, conduct a race with another car. Record and upload video of your car racing another car. Take a video and upload it using the QR code below. Click here to see all posts.
