Batteries, we use them for just about everything in our lives, but what do you really know about them? Click to learn more about what fuels your devices.
When we think of a battery we tend to picture those everyday little cylinders that give life to our gadgets.
But in reality, batteries are absolutely everywhere, from our watches to smartphones, cars to pacemakers, coming in a vast number of different forms.
And if you didn’t already realize the true power of the humble battery, you may find these 5 facts quite illuminating.
1. Anyone Can Build a Battery
Whether it’s the familiar alkaline cylinders or the popular lithium-ion battery, all use chemical reactions within to create an electrical charge output. And it does this quite simply with two electrodes separated in an electrolyte solution.
The construction of a battery is so simple, that you can even build one using fruits and vegetables.
2. Battery Beginnings
The first battery was created in 1798, but evidence suggests that its origins may even go as far back as 2,000 years!
The ancient ‘Baghdad battery’ was discovered in 1938. It’s comprised a small clay jar filled with a vinegar solution, in which an iron rod encased in copper would be inserted.
Research suggests that this battery could have produced about one volt of electricity, used for electroplating rather than a source of power.
3. Dramatic Batteries
Batteries don’t just run out, they die! Even rechargeable batteries eventually expire as repeated use over time causes the chemicals to degrade, which means no more chemical reactions.
What’s more is that batteries are vulnerable to extreme temperatures, where the cold can slow the rate of the chemical reactions and self-discharge. This is what can cause increased car breakdowns and services in winter.
4. Bad News Batteries
The minerals used in batteries and their manufacturing processes are quite poisonous both to us and the environment. Aside from the various hazardous waste produced, the pollution they cause affects the planet’s air, land, and water.
Chemicals of just one smartphone battery can pollute 600,000 liters of water! And with over 30 thousand tons of batteries being thrown away each year, we’re finally taking progressive steps to recycle them on a global scale.
5. Taking Charge
As technology improves, its need for more power increases. And we can’t be stuck without power in our everyday devices, which means we need more powerful rechargeable batteries.
The first mobile phone’s battery only lasted 20 minutes, and now we need enough to power a small computer for the whole day. To make this possible, battery output can be altered in one of two ways:
Series vs parallel connection – when placed in a series, you can create a higher voltage output which is ideal for something like a scooter. But in a parallel connection, the amp-hour is increased which allows for a longer duration (e.g. a laptop).
This means that when choosing a battery, you may want to consider their connections for their intended purpose, for which you can read on here to learn more.
The Magic of Batteries
So there are five amazing battery facts that you may never have even considered. As you can see, there’s so much more to that little package of energy than powering your TV remote.
Next time you’re running low on juice, take the time to think about where your power came from, and what you can do to keep batteries alive so they can continue to serve us in a brighter future.
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