The Baghdad Battery could have been the world’s first storage cell, but we may never know for sure. That’s because the 2,000-year-old relic vanished during Operation Desert Storm, . The only way to settle this could perhaps be to make a Baghdad battery of your own. Are you ready to give it a go?
Even That Might Not Settle the Issue Completely
There’s much confusion as to the Baghdad device’s real purpose. Some folk believe it was a battery. While others believe it once contained a document rolled up in a scroll. We can’t discount that theory entirely. Although we would be more convinced if we could see the document, except the remains of that would have vanished in the looting too.
One way to solve this could be for you to make a Baghdad Battery at home, and report back on your finding. The parts you need may be somewhat tough to find, so ask your specialist hobby store where to look for the following:
- Smallish glass or ceramic vase without a handle say eight inches tall.
- Thin sheet of copper that’s nice and shiny and say twelve inches square.
- A plain iron rod (not coated) long enough to stand out above the jar.
- Sheet of cork say one inch thick, and twelve by twelve inches square.
- A volt meter plus two short lengths of insulated wire with crocodile clips.
How to Make a Baghdad Battery Yourself
Does This Solve the Mystery if it Works?
Well, if the excperiment did not work, then we suppose that would add weight to the theory the Baghdad Battery once contained a religious scroll. Although, seeing as the original container was only six-inches tall it would have been a mighty tiny one.
Nobody will ever know for sure, because the looters destroyed the evidence. Please do add a comment and tell us what YOU think, of this strange moment in the history of batteries we are attempting to unravel.
More Information
Beginning of the History of Lead-Acid Batteries
Roller Coaster Energy Conversion Demo
