Review of Basic Electrostatics

Part 1

A battery works by means of a slow chemical reaction. Two ionic chemicals, with different potentials, exchange ions (charged particles) and allow current to flow between the terminals of the battery.

Eventually, the ions will have moved to the region of lower potential, equalizing the potential of the two chemicals. That's what happens when your battery goes dead.

What a battery recharger does is to create an artificial region of potential, using the electric current in your outlet. This region of potential reverses the flow of ions from one chemical to the other, forcing them into their original configuration. It acts like the motor in the picture above, bringing bringing ions back together so that you can use the battery again.

If you have not yet read the Second Part of the Review, you should do so now. Otherwise, go on to learn the Definition of Potential


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