Batteries

[SIZE=14][COLOR=blue][FONT=Impact]How does a battery work?

There are many different kinds of batteries which generally require two different metals from which electrons will flow from one metal electrode to another. This can be through a solid material like manganese dioxide or a liquid, water with a little acid in it to help it conduct electricity. Batteries in general produce only a small voltage (1.5 volts) and as in a car battery they can be used in a series of plates to produce a greater voltage by adding them up. Though basic voltage varies little, bigger batteries mean more amperage (you can laugh off 1 amp but not 13 amps).

I'm new here too but I would guess you have to click on Close all Tags to finish such a message off.

I would like to add that not just any two metals will do. The metals are separated by an acid which can either be dry or wet.

Manganese dioxide would be a dry acid and is what is found in your average AA battery. Wet would be Hydrochloric Acid and is what is found in car batteries. The acid is not only conductive (the acid ionizes allowing it to carry a charge) but it reacts with the metal (part of the reason why not any two metals will do) to create the ionization of the metal. Which way a metal ionizes depends on the metal and what material the other metal it's paired up with is comprised of (the other reason why not any two metals will do). Some metals will have an easier time ionizing negatively (taking on electrons) while others will have an easier time ionizing positively (giving up electrons). This depends mostly on the valence electrons found within the metal. This is not to say that a metal that ionizes positively easily can't ionize negatively or vise versa but if you wish to have an efficient battery than it is best to pair a metal that ionized negatively easily with a metal that ionizes positively.

You can create your own by taking a copper and iron plate (4 inches wide by 4 inches long by 1/8 inch thick) and placing a wet (with water) paper between them. But before you do apply salt to both sides of the wet paper. The salt will ionize in the water into chlorine and sodium ions. These will then react with the metals (much like an acid) causing them to ionize accordingly.

Battery is also the wrong term to be using. When you have two electrodes (metals that carry an electric charge) separated by and electrolyte (the acid or acid like chemical which reacts with the electrodes) you have what is called a Cell. A battery is when you have two or more Cells connected together in series.

Yeah I would like to see you laugh off 1 amp. One amp can kill you quite easily. Often you see amperage in readings of mA or uA and such amperage can hurt but usually not kill. 100 mA can kill if applied for a long enough duration. A 1 amp shock (less than a second applied) can throw a person into cardiac arrest resulting in death. So that 120V/10A wall socket in your house has the potential to not only kill you but cook you in your own juices. That's where the fuse box comes in. Using such a shock would create a spike in amperage through the fuse causing it to either blow or trip (depending on the fuse) before said current spike can reach your body. You may feel tingly all over or it may even render you unconscious but it should keep you alive if working properly.

Also since we use AC instead of DC it causes your muscles to lock up tighter than choir boy at a priest convention.