10/16/2019 Battery - Energy Education

Battery
A battery is a device that stores energy and then discharges it by converting chemical
energy into electricity. Typical batteries most often produce electricity by chemical
means through the use of one or more cells.[2] Many different materials can and have
been used in batteries, but the common battery types are alkaline, lithium-ion, lithium-
polymer, and nickel-metal hydride. Batteries can be connected to each other in a series
circuit or a parallel circuit.

There is a wide variety of batteries that are available for purchase, and these different
types of batteries are used in different devices. Large batteries are used to start cars,
while much smaller batteries can power hearing aids. Overall, batteries are extremely
important in everyday life.

Cells Figure 1. A 9-volt

battery.[1]
A cell is a single unit that produces electricity through some method. Generally
speaking, cells generate power through a thermal, chemical or optical process.

A typical cell has two terminals (referred to as electrodes) immersed in a chemical (referred to as the electrolyte).
The two electrodes are separated by a porous wall or bridge which allows electric charge to pass from one side to
the other through the electrolyte. The anode—the negative terminal—gains electrons while the cathode—the
positive terminal—loses electrons. This exchange of electrons allows a difference in potential or voltage difference
to be developed between the two terminals—allowing electricity to flow.[2]

There can be a vast number of cells in a battery, from a single cell in an AA battery, to more than 7,100 cells in the
85 kWh Tesla Model S battery.[3]

Primary cells ("dry")

In these cells a chemical action between the

electrodes and electrolyte causes a permanent change,
meaning they are not rechargeable.[2] These
batteries are single use, which results in more waste
from the use of these batteries since they are disposed
of after a relatively short period of time.

Secondary cells ("wet")

This type of cell (referred to as wet due to using a

liquid electrolyte) generates a current through a
secondary cell in the opposite direction of the
first/normal cell. This causes the chemical action to
go in reverse, effectively being restored, meaning that
they are rechargeable.[2] These batteries can be more Figure 2. A cutaway diagram, showing the anatomy of an alkaline
expensive to purchase but generate less waste as they battery.[4]
can be used several times.

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10/16/2019 Battery - Energy Education

Battery Capacity
Batteries are often rated in terms of their output voltage and capacity. The capacity is how long a particular battery
will last in Ah (Ampere hours)[2]:

A battery with a capacity of 1 Ah will last for one hour operating at 1 A.

Batteries can also be rated by their energy capacity. This is either done in watt-hours or kilowatt-hours.

A battery with a capacity of 1 kWh will last for one hour while outputting 1 kW of electricity.

Phet Simulation
The University of Colorado (http://phet.colorado.edu/) has graciously allowed us to use the following Phet
simulation. This simulation explores how batteries work in an electric circuit:

For Further Reading

For further information please see the related pages below:

Series circuit
Parallel circuit
Direct current
Dispatchable source of electricity
Electrical grid
Electric generator
Or explore a random page!

References
1. Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duracell_9_Volt_0849.jpg#/media/File:Duracell_9_Volt_0849.jpg
2. R.T. Paynter, “Basic Electric Components and Meters,” in Introduction to Electricity, 1rst ed. NJ: Prentice-
Hall, 2011, ch. 3, sec. 3.4, pp. 89-94.
3. Technology Metals Research. (Accessed July 28, 2015). Going Natural: The Solution To Tesla’s Graphite
Problem [Online], Available: http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/2014/03/going-natural-the-solution-to-
teslas-graphite-problem/
4. Hyperphysics. (Accessed July 28, 2015). Carbon-zinc batteries [Online], Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/battery.html

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Authors and Editors

Bethel Afework, Jordan Hanania, James Jenden, Kailyn Stenhouse, Jasdeep Toor, Jason Donev
Last updated: May 18, 2018
Get Citation

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