Idea 2of 9Builds onA loop that closes
The push
What does the battery actually give the loop?
Today you'll discover
- what a battery gives each bit of charge
- why a bigger battery lights brighter
- the name and unit of the push
Think firstThe wire is already full of charge
The wire is already full of charge. What does the battery add?
Decide first, then press Next. Watch the number on the battery, the push it gives.
A rectangular loop of wire with a battery on the left and a bulb on the top wire. After a prediction, the battery's volts are printed, then the bulb is marked to show it glows brighter with a bigger push. The last step asks which of two batteries pushes each bit of charge harder.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
Voltage is the battery's push on every bit of charge.
Compare themA battery does not supply charge, and it does not supply a fixed flow. It supplies a push, measured in volts, and the loop decides what flow results.
Key word
- voltage
- the energy a battery gives each coulomb of charge, in volts (V); the push, measured across two points
About this modelCharge is never used up: what leaves the battery comes back. Volts are what get spent.
Charge is never used up: what leaves the battery comes back. Volts are what get spent.
Ready to use it?
- Say what a battery's volts mean, and compare the push of two described batteries.