3 ms·
"The Discovery Channel program MythBusters built replicas of the jars to see if it was indeed possible for them to have been used for electroplating or electros
by okket 8y ago
"The Discovery Channel program MythBusters built replicas of the jars to see if it was indeed possible for them to have been used for electroplating or electrostimulation. On MythBusters' 29th episode (March 23, 2005), ten hand-made terracotta jars were fitted to act as batteries. Lemon juice was chosen as the electrolyte to activate the electrochemical reaction between the copper and iron. Connected in series, the batteries produced 4 volts of electricity. When linked in series, the cells had sufficient power to electroplate a small token and deliver a minor electric shock to MythBusters co-host Adam Savage. Archaeologist Ken Feder commented on the show noting that no archaeological evidence has been found either for connections between the jars (which were necessary to produce the required voltage) or for their use for electroplating."
- userbinator 8y ago4V is not enough for any sort of "electric shock", much less be perceptible.
- ChrisClark 8y agoWhat is the cutoff between 4V and 9V then? Because a fully charged 9V battery on the tongue is most definitely perceptible! Why is it imperceptible when you drop down to 4 volts?
- colejohnson66 8y agoIt has to do with the resistance between the two terminals. Every person is different, so the cutoff will be different between every person
- close04 8y agoIt also depends on the sensitivity of the tissue. Take the tongue for example where 4V is enough to feel a bite.
- jerkstate 8y agowhen cells are linked in series, voltage is additive. 2 jars linked positive-to-negative would provide 8 volts, 10 jars about 40, which is definitely enough to get a shock or electroplate.
- userbinator 8y agoI think you misread it --- the sentence is saying 10 cells in series provided 4V, which means ~0.4V/cell and far closer to what the chemistry would predict for a copper-iron cell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_electrode_potential_(data_page) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_electrode_potential_(... edit: see near the bottom of page 4 of this: http://www.mrloader.com/uploads/3/2/2/1/32218311/electrochemistry_notes.pdf http://www.mrloader.com/uploads/3/2/2/1/32218311/electrochem... That says 0.43V for a copper-iron cell.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]