how does a battery work?

Question

How does a battery work? Please explain it thoroughly. I've looked it up, but none of the explanations make sense to me.

Answer 1

There are types of chemical reactions called oxidation-reduction reactions that essentially involve an exchange of electrons. If these chemicals are put together in a solution, the reaction will go automatically. However, if you separate them, you can cause the exchange of electrons to happen over a wire. This produces a current. The degree to which the chemical reaction 'wants' to happen will determine the voltage of the battery you obtain this way.

Of course, there are details to make sure that the reaction happens as fully as possible, and to make sure that charges don't build up, but that is the basic idea. Different battery types use different chamical reactions. That is why the lead battery in your car is different than the Lithium battery in your cell phone and both are different than the dry cell in a flashlight.

Answer 2

Chemical batteries operate by creating ions and "free" electrons. When you complete a circuit, it permits the opposing charges to recombine. The exact chemistry depends on the type of battery - car batteries use a lead-acid process while dry cells use a slightly different metal acid process.

Answer 3

yet another non-thought out question! "what kind of battery"? yes virginia, there are different kinds, and they are all different. the only common thing is they are "chemical"

Answer 4

try www.howstuffworks.com