Get the Most From Your Batteries
For When You Need Them
Purpose Statment
Research
First of all, yes batteries can expire. Every box has a little stamped date on it that says how long they can sit on a shelf and still be used. Usually it ranges from 3 to 6 years. But, the demand for batteries is always high, so they don’t sit on a shelf for that long.
A battery is made up of three parts; an anode, a cathode, and the electrolyte. The anode and the cathode are hooked up to an electric circuit. The chemical reaction between the two produce energy. Anode is a metal that has the highest melting point on the periodic table. The cathode is a metal that has a radioactive coating that gives it an extra electron kick.
Hypothesis
My hypothesis is the cooler air will recharge it to a degree. I base my hypothesis on my father told me that it will recharge it somewhat. I want to prove it.
Materials
9 Triple A batteries
Flashlight
Timer
Time
IV: Storage Temperature
DV: Battery Life
CV: Flashlight
CV: Battery brand and sizeProcedures
Insert three batteries into the flashlight.
Keep flashlight lit, and time how long the batteries light the flashlight.
Heat a second group of 3 batteries by putting them in water heated to 120º F for 5 minutes.
Repeat steps 1-2 for the heated batteries.
Cool a third group of 3 batteries by putting it in the freezer that is 20º F for 10 minutes.
- Repeat steps 1-2 for the cooled batteries.
Observations Log/Data
The regular batteries lasted 12 hours and 30 minutes. The cooled batteries lasted 19 hours and 55 minutes. Finally the heated pair lasted a total of 34 hours and 2 minutes.
Results
Results
The original purpose of this experiment was to find the effect of heated and cooled batteries on their life. My hypothesis was that the cooled batteries were going to last longer. But the heated batteries last much longer than the others.