New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Foundation

Electric cells and batteries

I can describe how an electric cell works and how electric cells are combined to produce batteries of different voltages.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Foundation

Electric cells and batteries

I can describe how an electric cell works and how electric cells are combined to produce batteries of different voltages.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Electric cells contain a store of chemicals that react to produce a voltage across two electrical contacts.
  2. An electric cell made of two different metals in contact with an electrolyte, produces a voltage across the metals.
  3. The size of voltage across an electric cell depends on the materials it is made from.
  4. A battery is made of one or more electric cells, which can be connected in series to produce a larger voltage.
  5. The chemical reaction in a rechargeable battery is reversed when an external voltage is connected across it.

Common misconception

Understanding which way the electrons flow in the electric cell and explaining why the voltage is sometimes recorded as negative.

The more reactive metal is always oxidised, i.e. looses electrons which flow towards the less reactive metal. Demonstrate that a negative voltage is seen when the electrical leads connected to the voltmeter are swapped around.

Keywords

  • Electric cell - A device that contains a store of chemicals that react to produce a voltage across two electrical contacts.

  • Voltage - This is a measure of the difference in energy between two parts of a circuit. It is measured in volts.

  • Electrolyte - A liquid or aqueous salt solution that contains freely moving ions.

  • Electric battery - An electric cell, or several cells joined together in series, that can push current around a complete circuit to transfer energy to each component.

Ask the pupils to predict the voltage of a battery and then check their answer by setting up the battery.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the primary function of an electric cell?
To store electricity
To act as an insulator
Correct answer: To produce a voltage
Q2.
In electrolysis, what type of ions does the anode attract?
Correct answer: Negative ions
Neutral particles
Positive ions
Q3.
What type of reaction occurs in an electric cell to produce a voltage?
Correct answer: Chemical reaction
Nuclear reaction
Physical reaction
Q4.
What are the two types of terminals in an electric cell?
Correct answer: Anode and cathode
Positive and negative
North and south
Q5.
What happens if the circuit is incomplete?
Correct answer: Current cannot flow
The circuit becomes a parallel circuit
The voltage increases
Q6.
Which component in a circuit can be used to control the flow of electricity?
Battery
Correct answer: Switch
Wire

6 Questions

Q1.
What do electric cells contain that react to produce a voltage?
Correct Answer: chemicals
Q2.
How are electric cells connected to form a battery?
In parallel
Correct answer: In series
Randomly
Q3.
The voltage produced by an electric cell depends on ...
Correct answer: the type of electrolyte used.
the temperature of the cell.
the size of the cell.
Correct answer: the materials used for the electrodes.
Q4.
What is the total voltage of a circuit with three electric cells of voltage 2.0 V, 1.5 V, and 1.0 V connected in series to form an electric battery?
1.0 V
1.5 V
2.0 V
Correct answer: 4.5 V
Q5.
What happens in a rechargeable battery when an external voltage is applied?
The battery is insulated
Correct answer: The chemical reaction is reversed
The voltage increases
Q6.
What is the purpose of connecting electric cells in series?
To decrease the voltage
Correct answer: To increase the voltage
To store electricity