Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

So ive been trying to put this expirement together forever but it isnt working im not sure what the problem is.
I followed the instructions provided on the website for the expirement. So im not exactly sure if i set up the expirement wrong or my multimeter is not set correctly but it is very frustrating and I need help.
I have my wire wrapped around the pen tube but i cant seem to get it to stay on so i used alliagtor clips to hold it onto the pen im not sure if that is effecting it. I was a little confused when i told me to put the battery clip on the battery i did that but the it ask me to attach one of the copper wires to the positive terminal so i wasnt sure if that was the line from the battery clip or the actually positve terminal of the battery. But then i clipped the other cooper wire to the black multimeter line with and alligaor clip. Then it doesnt specify to much after that so i put the red multimeter line and the other line from the battery clip into the liquid and nothing showed on the multimeter. And maybe i didnt set the multimeter right it is a Cen-Tech 7 functions multimeter if that helps. But if anyone could help that would be greatly appriciated thank you .

Hello sharky1,

It's important to have the wires remain in a fixed place on the tube while you make all the measurements. Adding the alligator clips won't make the experiment completely fail, but they might also move around as you handle the tube and wires. Did you twist the end of the wire around the part that extends away from the tube? That will help it not uncoil. I think a better idea would be to use a small drop of glue between the wire and tube to hold the wires in place. Don't cover most of the wire with the glue: just enough to hold it in place.
The photograph in Figure 2 of the project description is crowded, so it's hard to follow the wires. Use the drawing of the wiring connections to compare to how your wires are connected. If you have a connector on the battery, then connect your wires to the ends of the wires attached to the connector.
If you accidentally touched together the two wires that go into the liquid, you may have blown a fuse that is inside the multimeter. Put your meter on the DC voltage range and connect it directly to the battery. You should be able to read 9 volts. If it reads zero, you may need to replace the fuse in your meter. Be sure to turn the meter knob back to DC current before hooking up the experimental setup.

Good luck, WW