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Easy to Work With
Copper wire is very easy to use, even for children. The insulation on copper wire is easy to strip off. It sometimes can be done simply with fingernails. It is easily cut to the desired length using wire cutters, or even scissors if the diameter is small enough. It bends easily, which makes connecting it to the leads and bulb simple and quick. It can fray into strands, however, so some care is required.
Scraps Work Well
A fruit battery does not require a great deal of wire, so there is probably no need to go out and buy copper wire specifically for the project. Many households have unusable electric devices with cords that can be salvaged for the copper wiring in the cord. There may be scraps of copper wire from other appliances in the tool box. Even Christmas lights, which have great bulbs for use in a fruit battery, have copper wiring attached.
Inexpensive and Easy to Find
Even if wire must be purchased specifically for the fruit battery, copper is still the best choice. Inexpensive coils or rolls of copper wire are available in many stores and can be bought in small quantities. Additionally, copper wire is available in various gauges, or diameters, to meet the specifications of the fruit battery. Compared to silver and aluminum wire, which are more expensive and harder to find, copper is the best value.
Good Conductivity
Since a fruit battery does not produce a great deal of current, getting as much electricity as possible to the light bulb is very important. Copper conducts electricity extremely well, better than any other non-precious metal. Silver and gold may conduct electricity better than copper, but only slightly. Taking conductivity into consideration, along with the other factors, makes copper wire the clear choice for just about any electrical project, Including fruit batteries.