Electric Battery
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Cell ð Two metals, typically copper and zinc, Immersed in an electrolyte (alkaline solution, for example)
ð Electrolyte pulls free electrons from the copper electrode,leaving it with a positive charge
ð Zinc electrode attracts free electrons, leaving it with a negativce charge.
Battery
ð A battery is a combination of 2 or more cells
ð A typical car battery is shown on the right |
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Series Configuration: Voltages add, current does not
Parallel Configuration: Voltages do not add, current does
Circuit Diagrams Using Resistors
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| Series-Parallel Circuit (without R1 and R4 this would be a parallel circuit) | Series Circuit |
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ð The positive and negative electrodes are separated by the chemical electrolyte.
ð The electrolyte can be a liquid, but in an ordinary battery it is more likely to be a dry powder.
ð When you connect the battery to a lamp and switch on, chemical reactions start happening.
ð One of the reactions generates positive ions (shown here as big yellow blobs) and electrons (smaller brown blobs) at the negative electrode.
ð The positive ions flow through the electrolyte to the positive electrode (from the green line to the red one).
ð Meanwhile, the electrons (smaller brown blobs) flow around the outside circuit (blue line) to the positive electrode and make the lamp light up on the way. ð The electrons flow from the negative terminal (excess of electrons) to the positive terminal (deficiency of electrons) |
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