Interactive Earth Battery Simulator

Earth Battery Simulator

Created By : Ir. MD Nursyazwi

An earth battery uses the electrochemical potential difference between two dissimilar metals buried in the soil to generate a small voltage.

How to Use

Follow these simple steps to simulate your own earth battery and see how different factors affect its performance.

1. Select two different Electrode Types from the dropdown menus to create an electrochemical potential.
2. Adjust the environmental conditions: Distance between electrodes, Soil Moisture, Soil Type, and Soil pH.
3. Choose the Connection type (Series or Parallel) and the Number of Batteries to see how multiple cells affect the output.
4. Set the Simulation Duration and the Load Resistance to define the circuit's conditions.
5. Click the Simulate button to start the simulation and view the live results and graphs.
6. Click the Reset button to clear all results and return to the default settings.

Electrode Type 1: Magnesium Aluminum Zinc Iron Lead Nickel Cadmium Chromium Copper Silver Gold

Electrode Type 2: Magnesium Aluminum Zinc Iron Lead Nickel Cadmium Chromium Copper Silver Gold

Distance between electrodes (cm):

Soil Moisture: Dry Moist Wet

Soil Type: Sand Loam Clay

Soil pH: Acidic (pH < 7) Neutral (pH 7) Alkaline (pH > 7)

Connection:

Series

Parallel

Number of Batteries:

Simulation Duration (s):

Load Resistance (Ohms):

Current flows from the anode (most negative potential) to the cathode (most positive potential)

Simulated Voltage

0.00 V

Simulated Current

0.00 A

Voltage Over Time

Current Over Time

Science Behind the Earth Battery

An earth battery is a simple form of a galvanic cell, which is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The process is a spontaneous chemical reaction called a redox reaction (short for reduction-oxidation).

The Components

A galvanic cell requires three main components to function:

• Electrodes: These are the two different metals buried in the soil. Each metal has a different standard electrode potential, which is its tendency to gain or lose electrons. The metal with the more negative potential becomes the anode, where it loses electrons (oxidation). The other metal becomes the cathode, where it accepts electrons (reduction).
• Electrolyte: The soil itself acts as the electrolyte. For the battery to work, the soil must be moist, as the water contains dissolved ions that allow a charge to flow. The soil's moisture, type, and pH all affect its conductivity and, therefore, the battery's performance.
• External Circuit: This is the wire and the load (like a small LED or the light bulb in this simulator) that connect the two electrodes. Electrons from the anode flow through this circuit to the cathode.

The Process

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the chemical reaction:

1. Oxidation at the Anode: The anode (e.g., Zinc) has a higher tendency to give up electrons. It dissolves into the moist soil as positively charged ions (Zn²⁺), leaving its electrons behind on the metal.
2. Electron Flow: These electrons travel from the anode, through the external wire, to the cathode. This flow of electrons is the electrical current that powers the load.
3. Electric Field and Ion Flow: The difference in electrical potential between the electrodes creates an electric field in the soil. This invisible force field pushes the positively charged ions (cations) through the electrolyte (the soil) from the anode to the cathode, and negatively charged ions (anions) in the opposite direction. This internal flow of ions completes the circuit and sustains the external flow of electrons.
4. Reduction at the Cathode: The cathode (e.g., Copper) accepts the incoming electrons. Cations in the soil, such as H+ ions or dissolved metal ions, migrate to the cathode and react with the electrons, completing the circuit.

Key Factors Affecting Performance

The voltage and current produced are directly influenced by several factors:

• Electrode Potential Difference: The greater the difference in potential between the two metals, the higher the resulting voltage. This is why a combination like magnesium and copper will produce a higher voltage than iron and copper.
• Soil Conditions: A moister, more acidic soil with a loam or clay composition tends to have more free-moving ions, which lowers the internal resistance of the battery and allows for a higher current.
• Distance: The farther apart the electrodes are, the higher the internal resistance of the soil, which reduces the overall current and voltage.

References

• "Harnessing the Earth's Hidden Power: Do Earth Batteries Work?" Fabrikatur, July 2025.
• "Grounded Power: Can Your Backyard Really Generate Electricity?" Fabrikatur, July 2025.
• "Unearthing Power: A Deep Dive into Earth Batteries." Fabrikatur, July 2025.