Batteries

Claimed by Nathan Batey

A device used in electric circuits to store and distribute voltage.

The Main Idea

A battery is a device that is commonly used in circuits to distribute a voltage through the circuit's path. The battery uses a chemical reaction to produce a potential difference between the positive and negative terminals. The voltage is produced by the work done on charges inside the battery. Batteries(singular or multiple connected) can technically be referred to as electrochemical cells, and more specifically voltaic cells(because of their nature to produce an external potential difference). When talking about circuits, the potential difference(or voltage) produced by batteries is often referred to as EMF(electromotive force).

Types of Batteries

There are different types of batteries, the main difference being the chemical inside producing the reaction.

Alkaline Batteries

Containing potassium hydroxide, an alkaline electrolyte, these batteries are one of the most common

Lithium Ion Batteries

A type of rechargeable battery, with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios

Lead Acid Batteries

One of the oldest batteries, these have a very low energy-to-weight ratios, they can provide short high surges of current and are most commonly found in automobiles

Nickel-Cadmium Batteries

Another type of rechargeable battery, containing nickel oxide hydroxide and cadmium

=Mathematical Concepts

In a circuit, unless connected to another power source, the EMF of the circuit will be equal to the voltage of the battery.

[math]\displaystyle{ {{Voltage}_{Battery}} = {EMF} }[/math]

If multiple batteries are connected in a circuit the EMF of the circuit will be equal to the sum of all the voltages of the batteries. Whether the batteries are connected in series or parallel has no effect on the EMF.

[math]\displaystyle{ {{{Voltage}_{Battery_1}}+{{Voltage}_{Battery_2}}+{...}} = {{EMF}_{Circuit}} }[/math]

Examples

Example 1

If there is a simple circuit, as shown below, with a 9 volt battery and a 3 ohm light bulb connected, what would the EMF of the circuit be when the switch is left open?

Middling

Difficult

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