Batteries

So you're probably wondering what's the point of learning what a battery is, let alone how it works. But trust me you'll want to know. There is going to be that day that you regret not learning. For example, that one day where a pop quiz comes up, asking you which direction do electrons move in a wire? or what is a cathode vs an anode? or what is the oxidation reaction? Its handy to know your stuff, trust me, I should know. 

How a Battery Works

As you can see in the picture there are two terminals. One is positive, one is negative. The positive terminal is what we call the cathode, and the negative terminal is the anode.  These two can also be referred to as electrodes and it occupies most of the space in a battery and is the place where the chemical reactions occur. The medium that allows the electric charge to flow between the cathode and anode is known as the electrolyte. This electrolyte prevents the electrons that are being exerted by the anode, to just move straight into the cathode. When the battery is hooked up to a device that lets the electrons flow through it, then they flow from negative (anode) to positive (cathode) terminal through a conducive path called a circuit. This results in the circuit to be complete and lights up the light bulb. This is undergone in the process called Redox reaction.

What is a circuit?

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A circuit is a closed loop that electrons can travel in. A source of electricity,  a battery, provides electrical energy in the circuit.  Unless, if the circuit is complete,  making a full circle back to the electrical source, no electrons will move.


​What happens when you recharge a battery?
When you recharge a battery, you change the direction of the flow of electrons using another power source, such your phone charger. The electro chemical processes happen in reverse, and the anode and cathode are restored to their original state and can again provide full power.

Parallel VS Series Circuit

 

What is the difference between a Parallel and Series circuit you may ask? Well that is a terrific question, thank you for asking. 



Notice that in both pictures, they each have a battery, copper wire, connecting the circuit, and 2 light bulbs that as shown, lights up because both circuits are complete.



But what is a parallel circuit? A parallel circuit has electricity  pass along different paths to power different loads. Whereas the series current has only one path of electricity but it can provide power for more than one electrical load.

 

 

A battery is a device that is able to store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy, and convert that energy into electricity.

The electrolyte is a chemical medium that allows the flow of electrical charge between the cathode and anode.

During a discharge of electricity, the chemical on the anode releases electrons to the negative terminal and ions in the electrolyte through what’s called an oxidation reaction.

 A circuit is a path of electricity that has electrons move in  a closed loop.

 An anode (-) is the negative part of the battery, a cathode is the positive part of the battery. (+).

Battery terminals are the electrical contacts used to connect a load or charger to a single cell or multiple-cell battery.

​The amount of work per unit of charge is called the electric potential difference.

 The unit of potential difference is called the volt.​

Voltage is a measure of energy per unit charge and is measured in volts.



In a serial arrangement, the 4 batteries in series will together produce the current of one cell, but the voltage they supply will be four times that of a single cell.

In a parallel arrangement, the 4 batteries in parallel will together produce the voltage of one cell, but the current they supply will be four times that of a single cell.​

​Current is the rate at which electric charge passes through a circuit, and is measured in amperes.​