Electronics · lesson 6 of 30 · free

Cells and batteries — Electronics for kids

A cell pushes current round a circuit; its push is its voltage. An ordinary torch cell gives 1.5 V. A battery is two or more cells joined together. Joined in series (+ of one to − of the next) their voltages add: three 1.5 V cells give 4.5 V. Identical cells side by side in parallel give the same voltage as one cell but last longer. A cell put in the wrong way round pushes backwards and cancels one cell.

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Remember

Line them up, add them up — “cells joined + to − in a row add their voltages”

  1. Series (+ to −): total voltage = add the cells; n identical cells = n × one cell.
  2. Parallel (identical cells, + with +): the voltage stays the same as one cell.
  3. The bump end is +, the flat end is −; the long line in the symbol is +.

Use it for: Putting cells in a torch or toy the right way, science lessons on cells and batteries, and simple circuit calculations.

Worked example: 🔋 3 identical 1.5 V cells are joined in series (+ of one cell to − of the next). What is the total voltage (in volts)? → 4.5

  1. In series the voltages add up.
  2. 3 × 1.5 V = 4.5 V.

Check: 1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 4.5 ✓

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🖨️ Electronics Worksheet: Cells and Batteries

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