1.4 Cells and Batteries

• The principle of operation of a simple cell
• Primary and secondary cells; series and parallel battery arrays
• Charging a secondary battery, and maintenance of cells and batteries
• Safe handling and disposal of cells and batteries

• describe the principle of operation of a simple cell
• connect series and parallel battery arrays in a circuit
• conduct the battery charging procedure for a secondary battery
• perform maintenance procedures for cells and batteries
• appreciate the importance of safe disposal of cells and batteries

“How do cells and batteries work?”

“How are different types of batteries applied in various fields?”

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1. Cells and batteries
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   How a simple cell turns chemical energy into electricity, primary and secondary cells, connecting cells in series and parallel, charging and maintaining secondary batteries, and the safe handling and disposal of batteries.
2. How a simple cell works
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   The principle of operation: two different electrodes in an electrolyte convert chemical energy into a voltage and a current in the external circuit.
3. Investigating a simple cell
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Build and measure zinc-copper and fruit cells, record voltage, and confirm that different metals are required.
4. Primary cells
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Primary cells cannot be recharged; the zinc-carbon dry cell, alkaline and button cells, their 1.5 V rating, and everyday Kenyan uses.
5. Secondary cells
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Rechargeable cells: lead-acid (2 V cells making a 12 V vehicle battery), lithium-ion packs, capacity in ampere-hours, and why charging must reverse the reaction.
6. Series battery arrays
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Connecting cells positive-to-negative so voltages add, measuring the total, and matching cells in a string.
7. Parallel battery arrays
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Joining all positives and all negatives so voltage stays the same while capacity and available current add, plus series-parallel banks.
8. Charging a secondary battery
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   The charging procedure for a lead-acid battery: correct charger, polarity, ventilation, rate, and why lithium-ion must not share that charger.
9. Maintaining cells and batteries
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Terminal cleaning, distilled water, charged cool storage, and avoiding over- and under-charging so a battery lasts.
10. Safe handling, disposal and applications
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    PPE and hazards, recycling instead of dumping, and how different batteries are applied - the two inquiry questions answered.