Electric cells and batteries
I can describe how an electric cell works and how electric cells are combined to produce batteries of different voltages.
Electric cells and batteries
I can describe how an electric cell works and how electric cells are combined to produce batteries of different voltages.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Electric cells contain a store of chemicals that react to produce a voltage across two electrical contacts.
- An electric cell made of two different metals in contact with an electrolyte, produces a voltage across the metals.
- The size of voltage across an electric cell depends on the materials it is made from.
- A battery is made of one or more electric cells, which can be connected in series to produce a larger voltage.
- The chemical reaction in a rechargeable battery is reversed when an external voltage is connected across it.
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.
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.
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).
Lesson video
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