Does removing the batteries from a remote control and rubbing them together actually do anything?

Question

I have seen people do this and have done it myself. Whenever the remote control doesn't work we remove the batteries, rub them in our hands for a minute, and pop them back in. Does this give them some more charge or release a charge held in them? What are the physics of this? Who did it first and why?

Answer 1

The heat from your hands helps the battery to gain 'charge' - which explains why the remote starts to work again. Works with most types of batteries.

Answer 2

Batteries last a tiny bit longer when you keep them cool. When you heat them up, they give out a tiny bit more energy.

Removing the batteries and rubbing them together helps to clean the contacts, so electricity can flow to the equippment a tiny bit better. It also puts oily skin deposits around the battery, which can help to keep the battery from loosing charge to the environment a tiny bit better, and it heats them so they give off energy a tiny bit faster. The result is a few more seconds of effective battery life before the charge goes down too low to do anything again.

It also lets you feel loke you've done something productive, so even if the remote doesn't work any better, you think it does.

Answer 3

Heat and friction are energy a battery stores energy , yes it does work in the short term . incidentally if your watch battery is dead take the back of your watch so the battery can touch your skin , some people produce enough static electricity to keep the watch going permanently .

Answer 4

yes this really works ive done this with all remotes. try it it will work

Answer 5

lol, I do it too!!!, in my mind, when I rub the together Im warming them up, and they somehow gain a few more days life :-)

Answer 6

NO