Why Do Batteries Work?

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Summer is typically the warmest season of the year. In the northern hemisphere it lasts from June to August. Most students see it as a time to get away from school and take a break from their studies. This is a timer of year in which most do not think of doing schoolwork. On break students may not have realized all the things science has provided them over their vacation. Batteries are one of the most remarkable devices for a number of reasons. They power our laptops, start our cars, and allow us to talk on cellphones. Hundreds of products were powered by batteries this summer, but what is the science behind them? The most primitive forms of batteries can be traced back to 250 B.C. when the Parthians lived in what is today Baghdad. The Parthians were able to create batteries by taking jars filled with vinegar and placing copper jars inside. They would then stick an iron rod on the top. This simple battery was then used to electroplate silver. In the 1700s scientists began to conduct more serious experiments on electricity. While some were able to conduct it, none were able to create a continuous flow of electricity. One day Italian physicist Alessandro Volta was able…show more content…
All batteries are made of three parts: the anode, cathode, and the electrolyte. The anode and cathode are the positive and negative charges. They are locked at either end of the battery and hooked up the electrical circuit. The chemicals in the battery cause a build up of electrons at the anode. This results in an electrical difference between the positive cathode and negative anode. The electrons begin to rearrange themselves in order to get rid of the difference. They repel one another and try to travel to places with fewer electrons. The only place with fewer electrons is the cathode. The steps may seem simple, but the electrolyte prohibits the electrons from going straight to the cathode. This describes how electrical potential causes electrons to flow through the

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