[funky upbeat music] [singer] We can, we can, we can We can, we can, we can We can, we can, we can Mini Fab Science Lab We can ask big questions We can figure it out Let’s investigate in the Mini Fab Science Lab [Brooke] Ava, this is a lot of lemons and oranges and limes.

[Ava] I thought we could use those to make lemonade.

Oh, yes, please.

[Ava] Hey, Brooke, check this out.

Whoa!

Cool, right?

Check this out.

[robot shutting down] Uh.

Cool?

[Ava] Uh-oh.

Oh, this is why.

There’s no batteries in it.

Do you have some batteries?

Hmm, I have lots of stuff in my backpack, but Pencil?

Nope.

Plushie?

Nope.

Notebook?

Nope.

Extra socks?

Nope.

Wait a minute.

We don’t have batteries, but we do have lemons.

How are lemons going to help us?

You’re going to love this.

Let’s find out.

[upbeat music] In the Mini Fab Science Lab.

OK, now this is cool.

Everything’s cool in the Mini Fab Science Lab.

And now the first thing we need is these lemons.

Can you roll them for me, Brooke?

[Brooke] Absolutely.

[Ava] Thank you.

[Ava] Now we need three copper wires, three zinc nails, four alligator clips, and an LED clock.

They should be good and juicy now.

OK, now we’re going to stick the copper piece into the lemon.

Then we’re going to put in the zinc clip.

All right, then we’ll connect our copper to our zinc.

Now, Brooke, would you please connect the ends of the clock to the alligator clips?

[Ava] Look, it’s on now.

Whoa, it’s like magic.

[Ava] It’s better than magic.

It’s science.

Wow, so how did you turn these lemons into batteries?

That’s a big question.

Let’s investigate.

Lemons are filled with a sour, acidy liquid called citric acid.

Citric acid is found in all kinds of fruits, like oranges, limes, grapefruits, and Lemons!

[Ava] That’s right.

And we need much more than just citric acid to turn lemons into batteries.

We need the copper and the zinc because they help us make electricity.

And if we get super duper small, I can show you how.

In the copper and the zinc, there are tiny things called electrons that zoom around.

The copper has a stronger pull on the little electrons, and the zinc has a weaker pull on them.

So the electrons want to move from the zinc to the copper.

If we put just the zinc and the copper next to each other, nothing will happen.

But if we put them in the lemon, something amazing will happen.

The citric acid in the lemon helps the electrons move.

[electric buzzing] [clock beeping] And when electrons move, we call that Electricity.

Right, and that’s what’s powering up the clock.

But wait, now I have a big question.

I love big questions.

What if we got a bunch of lemons?

Could we generate enough electricity for something big, like a toy robot?

Or really big, like a car?

Or an airplane?

Or maybe even a rocket ship?

That would take a lot, a lot of energy and a lot of lemons.

Got it, but do you think we could make enough electricity to power your robot with lemons?

That’s a big question.

We can ask big questions.

We can figure them out.

And I know just the expert we can talk to.

A lemon expert?

[laughing] An electricity expert.

Mom, can we call Mr. Riley?

We have a question to ask.

[Mom] Of course, but tell him I said hello.

OK.

Please call Mr. Riley at North Carolina A&T.

[soft music] Hey, Ava, how’s it going?

It’s good to hear from you.

Hi, Mr. Riley and my mom says hi too.

And this is my friend, Brooke.

Hi, Mr. Riley.

Hey, what’s going on, Brooke?

We’re calling because we have a question for an electrical engineer.

Well, you know I’m an electrical engineer.

So how can I shine a light on you today?

Brooke and I did an experiment where we generated electricity with lemons.

And now we have a big question.

Can we generate enough electricity from lemons to power a toy robot?

Well, that is a big question.

There are a lot of different ways you can make electricity.

Let me show you.

[Mr. Riley] Traditional power plants burn fuel to heat water, which creates steam.

The steam rotates a generator, and that makes electricity.

Wind power plants use the power of the wind to rotate generators to create electricity.

And my personal favorite, solar power.

It’s different than the other types because it converts sunlight directly into electricity.

The sunlight hits the solar cells, and that’s what makes the electrons move around to make an electric current.

People produce electricity all over the world to power the cars you ride in, the lights in your house, and the computers you use every day.

What about electricity for a toy robot?

The robot remote needs powerful batteries.

You would need a lot of lemons.

I say a AA battery should do the trick.

OK.

So the electrons move just like in the lemon battery?

That’s right.

And that makes Electricity.

Right.

When electrons move, that’s electricity.

Nicely done, Brooke and Ava.

Thank you for steering us in the right direction Mr. Riley.

Yeah.

It was cool to learn about different types of electricity.

And now we know what kinds of batteries to search for, or maybe what to do with all those lemons we have.

[Mr. Riley] Well, thank you for asking such big questions, Brooke and Ava.

I hope you keep on shining your light each and every day.

And tell your mom I said, hey, Ava.

See you later, y’all.

[Ava and Brooke] Bye, Mr. Riley.

Whoa.

I never knew science could be so electrifying.

I was positive you would love it.

Now, come on.

Let’s go tell my mom everything we learned today.

[upbeat music] Mom, Mr. Riley said "hey".

And guess what?

He taught us all about electricity from solar power to batteries.

[Mom] That’s great, girls.

I’m glad you were able to ask big questions today.

I left a little something for you on the counter.

[Ava] Oh, batteries.

Thanks, Mom.

Now we can generate electricity for your robot.

[robot powering up] [Ava] It’s on!

Whoa!

Look how cool it looks.

[Brooke] Those batteries did the trick.

[Ava] Totally.

I’m so glad we didn’t use up all our lemons.

So now we can make lemonade.

Yay, let’s do it.

Brooke, I’m so glad you could come over and hang out today.

Me too.

I learned so much about electricity and batteries and even lemons.

I’m glad our robot not having batteries didn’t turn the day sour.

Well, you know what they say.

When life gives you lemons [Robot] Make lemonade.

[upbeat electronic music] [laughter] [robot beeps] [] [laughter] [upbeat music] Mini Fab Science Lab is a production of PBS North Carolina in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education.

[upbeat music]