This wooden clock works for a full week on energy provided by a single lemon.
It looks like a digital juicer, but it’s a clock
In France, many teachers use lemons to teach children about how batteries work. In other works, to teach them about electrolysis. But, why lemons? The explanation is simple: when an acidic or salty liquid such as lemon juice comes into contact with zinc it produces oxidation, the process whereby electrons are lost.
The electrons produce movement as they “leave”. And this movement is what causes electricity. This chemical experience is easier to understand when we use a lemon instead of a battery.
The Citrus Clock works when the juice comes into contact with zinc and copper, producing electrolysis. Just place two lemon rinds on top, and this digital clock will be able to produce enough energy to run on for a week or even longer. In other words: the clock uses lemons as batteries.
The wooden base was sculpted at Atelier Chauvet, a workshop made up of experts in restoring antique furniture and works of art.
The clock was created by Frenchwoman Anna Gram, who defines Citrus Clock as a pedagogical clock. Her intention was not to convince us to substitute our wristwatches with lemon peels, but to make us reflect on the relationship between energy and nature. It’s a very graphic way of reminding us that nature is our direct source of energy, even though we sometimes tend to forget about this.
It’s ecological, illustrative, simple, and also pedagogical. Rarely have we gotten so much from a lemon.
Curioblog
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It looks like a digital juicer, but it’s a clock
