Science Common Sense

1323 - How do chemical batteries discharge and charge?

Imagine a battery as a container that stores tiny particles called electrons. Here's how it works:

Discharge (Running out of power): 1. When you connect a battery to a device like a phone or toy, the electrons in the battery start moving out to power it. 2. These electrons move from the negative side of the battery (called the anode) to the positive side (called the cathode). 3. As the electrons move out, the battery starts to empty and lose its power.

Charge (Getting power back): 1. When you plug the battery into a charger, the charger sends electrons back into the battery. 2. The electrons move from the charger into the anode (negative side) and back to the cathode (positive side). 3. As the electrons move back in, the battery starts to fill up and gain its power back.

So, a battery discharges when electrons move out to power a device, and it charges when electrons move back in from a charger.