1. Science 9 Grade Wide Project
MUD BATTERY
Science 9 Grade Wide Project

2. How Cells / Batteries Work
All cells have:
an Anode(-),
a Cathode(+),
an Electrolyte
When the cell is connected to a circuit, chemical reactions occur on the electrodes that create a flow of electrical energy to the device.

3. What is a Mud Battery?
A Mud battery works by harnessing the power of bacteria that live in soil.
The bacteria release electrons as they consume and break down sugars.

4. Mud Battery How does it work?

5. Mud Battery Kit
Two discs serve as the anode and the cathode (placed on top, exposed to air).
When the microbes release their electrons into the anode, they travel up a wire into a "Hacker Board."
Hacker Board can be connected to a load.
The electrons continue and descend back through the wire leading to the cathode.
Finally, the electrons mingle with the oxygen and create water.
The cycle is continuous, and occurs trillions of times every second.

6. You can but a Mudwatt kit
Assembly:

7. What kind of Bacteria?
The two most common types of bacteria are Shewanella and Geobacter.
Shewanella can be found almost anywhere on earth, and can expel energy to compounds outside its body.
Geobacter is most likely to be found where there is no oxygen (like the ocean floor) and can respire iron compounds.

8. Your Task: Build your Own Mud Battery
This is a Grade Wide Project. All Grade 9’s will be participating.
Why are we doing this?
The common project will allow students to apply the skills and knowledge they acquired during the academic year in the context of a single project.
By the end of this project, students will have a good understanding of the science competencies and skills needed to be successful at the next grade level.

9. Where to start: Go to: https://sites.google.com/view/sasprojects
Select Grade 9 Mudbattery
2. Go to Overview to find out:
What needs to be built and tested.
What needs to be submitted.
What the project is out of.
3. Go to Design Instructions to find out;
What can be used to build the mud battery.
What cannot be used to build the mud battery.
4. Go to Submit a Report
to find the digital progress report students need to complete (sorted by teacher)

10. BIG QUESTIONS
What conditions provide an optimal environment for bacterial growth?
What conditions allow for the optimal collection and transfer of electric charge?

11. Task 1: Group Work. Initial Research
Consider: the voltage produced by a mud battery depends on the bacteria in the mud as well as the materials used. Therefore, what are 3 variables that can be changed that would have an effect on the voltage produced by a mud battery?
Provide a testable hypothesis for EACH VARIABLE that predicts what will happen to the voltage if the variable were changed.
Provide a list specifying the materials that will be used to construct the your first mud battery. Include measurements.
Write a 1 page report explaining the advantages of the features you’ve included in your design.
Please refer to the slide show below for details and examples regarding the initial research and sketches.

12. Task 2: Test your battery (Group Work)
a picture of
your group testing the mud battery along with
a picture of the recorded voltage.

13. Task 3: Progress Report (Individual)
Post-Lab report for your protype #1:
Go to Submit Reports and fill in a progress report form.
Answer all questions concisely and accurately.
Collaborate: on what you want to change in your battery to improve results. What is your reasoning for making the changes you are planning?
Decide: who will do what and when and where.
Consider: How long do you think your changes need to be in place before you test?

14. Task 4: Mud Battery Test #2 (Group Work)
Test your battery again with the changes you implemented.
a picture of
your group testing the mud battery along with
a picture of the recorded voltage.

15. Task 5: Progress Report (Individual)
Post-Lab Report for Prototype #2:
Answer all questions concisely and accurately.
Research more. Think about how specifically you can improve your battery and why.

16. Task 6: Test your battery again (#3). Group
Test your battery again with the changes you implemented.
a picture of
your group testing the mud battery along with
a picture of the recorded voltage.

17. Task 7: Final Report. Individually
Post-Lab Report for final protype:
Go to Submit Reports and fill in a progress report form.
Answer all questions concisely and accurately.

18. Task 8: Discuss Big Questions
Write a paragraph in response to each Big Question stated at the beginning of the project:
What conditions provide an optimal environment for bacterial growth?
What conditions allow for the optimal collection and transfer of electric charge?
final report.

19. Marks Distribution: 30 marks
5 marks - Initial Research and Sketches
3 marks - per report (3 reports for a total of 9 marks)
5 marks - per mud battery test #1 and #2 (2 tests for a total of 10 marks)
*5 marks - bonus performance mark for final mud battery*
6 marks - Final Written Response

20. You should also know: Deadlines (TBA) for each task are firm.
Late submissions will not be accepted.

21. Download Handouts:
ViZ/view