IMPACT OF CARBON BLACK FROM GASOLINE ENGINE ON FLOW OF CURRENT

Abstract: This research titled "Impact of Carbon Black from Gasoline Engine on Flow of Current" was conducted with objective to ascertain the extent of current flow in a circuit containing carbon black. The carbon black was collected from tailpipe of 5000KVA gasoline generator after the gasoline had undergone deflagration. A simple circuit was set up with the rheostat, voltmeter, ammeter, a 12-volts battery and a fixed resistor value of 2Ω. The rheostat was adjusted to obtain a suitable value of current and potential difference (p.d) which were recorded as Io = 2.14A and Vo = 4.24V. Herein carbon black was connected to the circuit which showed no readable result of current flow. Afterwards 5ml of dilute H2SO4 in 15ml syringe was connected in series with the fixed resistor and the reading of current and p.d were taken as Is = 2.13A Vs = 4.26V. Thereafter 0.4g mass of carbon black was added to the dilute H2SO4 and same mass subsequently added in until it summed up to 4.0g of carbon black. At each instant of addition of 0.4g of carbon black the values of current and p.d were recorded. It was found from the results that the addition of the carbon black to dilute H2SO4 solution increased p.d and reduced the current flow. This simply implies that carbon contained in the carbon black acted as semiconductor at intrinsic state which also resisted the flow of current when doped with dilute H2SO4.

Keywords: Carbon black, Current flow, Gasoline Engine, Impact