During class this week, we started our unit on Electricity. We learned about voltage, charges, electric potential energy, and Van de Graff Generator. We also conducted a Lemon Battery Lab which helped us understand how the flow of electrons generates energy to power certain devices like the Ipad.
The picture below is the battery for an Ipad. The ipad consists of a Lithium ion battery which allows the the device to be more efficient and last longer. This battery has helped Ipad draw in many consumers and satisfy many customers with the long lasting battery. Little do customers know though is how it works.
The lithium ion battery has a positive and negative side just like any battery and since we know that lithium atoms can gain and lose electrons, it is safe to assume that there is a steady flow of energy or Electric potential energy being experienced. Just like in class, the charges are going up a hill and moving from the positive side of the battery to the negative side creating a reaction which results in electric potential energy. Charges cannot do this alone though they need voltage in order to move from one place to another. In essence, that is why we plug in chargers to recharge our batteries. You would think that the chargers add charges, hence the name, but it actually does not. Chargers add voltage and allow a reverse flow of charges creating the same reaction as before to make electric potential energy, moving the charges from negative to positive now.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/lithium-ion-battery1.htm
