- #1
u0362565
- 52
- 0
Hi all,
For some reason I'm really struggling to understand how batteries store energy and how this relates to electric potential.
Can I just think of a battery as two separate plates one accumulating positive charges the other negative. The positive and negative charges are attracted but they are kept apart by the electrolyte? The only way for equilibration to occur or the electric potential to be converted to electrical energy is when the external circuit is formed between the battery terminals. At that point, electrons have an easy route to the positive terminal and the potential energy is lost on whatever load is in the external circuit? Is that about right? A bit like a hydroelectric dam where water is pumped up hill creating potential energy this is like the separation of unlike charges in the cell. When the dam is opened the waters potential energy becomes kinetic. In the batteries case the terminals are connected with wire and the electons flow losing their potential but the process is this in a constant loop until the battery drains.
For some reason I'm really struggling to understand how batteries store energy and how this relates to electric potential.
Can I just think of a battery as two separate plates one accumulating positive charges the other negative. The positive and negative charges are attracted but they are kept apart by the electrolyte? The only way for equilibration to occur or the electric potential to be converted to electrical energy is when the external circuit is formed between the battery terminals. At that point, electrons have an easy route to the positive terminal and the potential energy is lost on whatever load is in the external circuit? Is that about right? A bit like a hydroelectric dam where water is pumped up hill creating potential energy this is like the separation of unlike charges in the cell. When the dam is opened the waters potential energy becomes kinetic. In the batteries case the terminals are connected with wire and the electons flow losing their potential but the process is this in a constant loop until the battery drains.