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Batteries Definition

Batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy to power devices. For example, they can be the source of energy in an electrical circuit.

View Lesson on Electricity & Circuits
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Electricity & Circuits

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • You can make a battery out of coins to power an LED!
  • Volts measure a battery's potential energy; higher volts mean more energy.
  • You could use a higher or lower volt battery to control the spin of a motor.

Why Do We Need To Know About Batteries

Learning about batteries helps us understand how they power things like toys. Batteries are important because they make a lot of our everyday gadgets work, from electric cars to our smartphones.

Batteries are also key in medical tools like artificial arms and in creating new computer technology. This shows how batteries are not just useful for powering things we use every day but also play a big part in creating new jobs and tech advancements in many areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is electricity?
Electricity is the flow of electrical energy from one place to another.
Why is a closed circuit needed for electricity to power our electronics?
For electricity to flow, it needs a closed path from the source, through a conductor, and back to the source.
What would be an advantage of a series circuit? Of a parallel circuit?
In a series circuit, you could turn on and off all the lights or devices at the same time, instead of turning each one on and off separately. In a parallel circuit, each light or device has its own path to the source, so you can control each one separately. If one light or device goes out, the other devices in the circuit are not affected.
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