Page 59 - Grasp English C1 (Student Book)

Science | How do batteries work?

A. Discuss the questions in groups.
1. What do you use batteries for?
2. What is the difference between a rechargeable and a
chargeable battery?
3. Do you know any of the chemicals inside a battery?

B. Read about how batteries work and answer the questions.

1. What are: a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte?
2. What is an ion?
3. What happens when you fit a circuit to a battery?
4. Why don’t electrons travel through the battery?
5. Why do batteries eventually stop working?
6. What are some typical chemicals used in batteries? What
kinds of materials are needed as battery components?

C. Read the information in the box. In pairs or groups,
suggest why Galvani thought animals created electricity.

In 1780, Italian scientist Galvani was convinced that
animals moved by creating their own electricity.
He attempted to prove this by fitting two different Cu
pieces of metal – iron and bronze, or iron and silver
– between the spinal cord and legs of a dead frog.
When the metals touched, the legs of the dead frog Zn
moved. Galvani concluded that the movement was
caused by the animals’ own electric power.

D. Research how to make a battery using common
household objects. Make a poster showing what
you did and demonstrate your battery to the class.

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